2026 regulation year
Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary) 2026 — Louisiana Fishing Regulations
Louisiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary) carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Louisiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Red drum (redfish). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Saltwater Recreational Licence — speckled trout, redfish, flounder, croaker; freshwater outflow from Atchafalaya Basin into Gulf
Source: Louisiana special-water list
Per-species rules on Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary)
Red drum (redfish) regulations →
18–27 slot, 4 / day, none over 27 in
Official source
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries publishes the authoritative 2026 Louisiana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's emergency-order feed — check it before any Louisiana trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Louisiana
- Atchafalaya Basin
- Bayou Macon + Tensas River (NE Louisiana floodplain)
- Black Lake / Clear Lake / Saline Lake (Natchitoches Parish)
- Bussey Brake (Morehouse Parish)
- Caddo Lake (LA/TX boundary, Cypress Bayou)
- Caddo Lake / Sabine River / Toledo Bend
- Calcasieu Lake / 'Big Lake' (Cameron Parish)
- Caney Lake (Jackson Parish)
- Eagle Lake (Madison Parish)
- False River (Pointe Coupee Parish oxbow)
- Grand Isle + Caminada Pass (Jefferson / Lafourche)
- John K. Kelly–Grand Bayou Reservoir (Red River Parish)
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary)?
- Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Louisiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish). One of them reads: "Saltwater Recreational Licence — speckled trout, redfish, flounder, croaker; freshwater outflow from Atchafalaya Basin into Gulf." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary)?
- Yes. Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary) is in Louisiana, so a valid Louisiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Louisiana rules.
- Do Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary)'s special rules replace Louisiana's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Louisiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay?
- Red drum (redfish) has a water-body-specific rule on Vermilion Bay + Atchafalaya Bay (Vermilion / Iberia / St. Mary), each linking to its full Louisiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Louisiana limits.