So much has happened in our outdoors world during the past three weeks to mandate updates in Louisiana’s fishing and hunting adventures.

Rain and the related late-spring weather patterns have limited fishing across the southern parishes. Bayous and rivers are running high and most lakes are muddy from runoff. Coastal and offshore waters have had moderate to downright rough conditions, situations that have meant inshore and nearshore trips have been limited to getting out in the brief periods (mostly early morning) between thunderstorms.

And the 2-4 foot offshore seas are not what this Memorial Day holiday weekend anglers wanted to see especially not the CCA folks ushering in this weekend’s opener of the summer-long S.T.A.R. fish-a-thon.

Alligators

After more than 10 years of back-and-forth debates, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a notice to open a recreational alligator hunting season.

It’s scheduled to run Oct. 1-31 and it’s framed to cut into the increasing numbers of alligators in swamps and marshes. This proposed season will be separate from long-established commercial season, and all those in the system with commercial harvest tags will not be able to take alligators in the new program.

The proposed season will be open to as many as 5,000 Louisiana-only resident hunters drawn by lottery to receive two tags each in one of eight statewide zones.

Other regulations are outlined in the notice and will follow ratification after the public comment period ends June 26. Public comment can be emailed to Jeb Linscombe: jlinscombe@wlf.la.gov.

Wildlife and Fisheries also announced plans for a commercial alligator lottery for 23 state wildlife management areas, 28 public lakes and one Corp of Engineers property beginning Aug. 26. The application deadline is June 15, and paperwork can be found on the agency’s webpage — wlf.louisiana.gov — under “Lottery Applications.” There is a $5 fee plus a $3.50 transaction fee.

Red snapper

A day after releasing the first numbers from the May 1 opening of the private recreational red snapper season, Wildlife and Fisheries secretary Tyler Bosworth signed off on a move to allow a five-fish-per-angler limit on red snapper through Monday (Memorial Day). The usual daily limit is four and that will be the daily limit starting Tuesday.

Through May 10, the LA Creel survey estimate is that 40,344 pounds of red snapper have been taken thus far in the private season. That’s 4.6% of our state’s 882,439-pound quota for 2026. The survey showed landings in the first seven-day period were up from the 8,307 pounds taken in the May 1-3 opening period.

A reminder is red snapper must measure at least 16 inches, and all anglers need a fee-free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit along with up-to-date state basic and saltwater licenses to possess red snapper and other offshore and reef fish species.

Bluefins

Federal fishery folks closed the recreational take of bluefin tuna in the Gulf effective Thursday for the rest of 2026. Their data indicated the subquota has been “reached and exceeded.” 

The commercial fishing sector is not included in this closure.

The gag order

Offshore fishermen finally have an answer to a possible opening of a season on taking gag grouper.

The Gulf Council will open federal waters to a season Sept. 1-30.

Talking turkey

State Turkey Program manager Cody Cedotal was close to jumping out of his skin when he outlined the first numbers from this year’s “record-setting” spring turkey hunt.

Cedotal told the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission that in 2026, hunters took 4,024 gobblers — marking the first time since 2009 the take was more than 4,000 birds. The data was gathered quickly because of mandatory reporting of used turkey tags.

Cedotal said this year’s take was better than 2025 (3,576 birds) and 2024 (3,695).

“Many hunters again reported increased encounters with jakes, which is an indicator of good reproduction in some areas,’’ Cedotal said. “Similar reports were noted over the last five years.’’

Other game

The commission also finalized dates and regulations for a third black bear hunting season and all the other seasons, including limits and public-land hunting regulations for resident game and migratory birds and waterfowl.

While the length of the black bear season is the same as 2025 — Dec. 5-20 this year — the number of tags in the lottery will increase to 42, including 20 in Bear Area 4, eight in Area 1, four each for areas 2-3, and two each for areas 5-6-7.

CRCL nominations

In its 30th year, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is seeking nominations from the public for its annual Coastal Stewardship Awards to honor individuals, businesses, organizations and communities working for Louisiana’s coast.

Nominations can be submitted online: crcl.org. The deadline is June 14.