The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released an online web-based survey to gather public input on Red Drum (Redfish) management options.
LDWF is conducting a survey of Red Drum management options before presenting recommendations to the Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Commission (LWFC). This survey is an additional effort to gather public input on management options; LDWF also conducted an email survey sent to over 10,000 randomly selected resident saltwater licensees before this survey was made available online.
LDWF’s recent assessment of Red Drum in Louisiana shows that while the spawning stock is still above limits, too few fish survive to join the offshore spawning population and this requires management changes. The juvenile portion of the Red Drum stock is measured by an “escape” rate. Escapement is the percentage of Red Drum that pass through the recreational fishery (there is no commercial fishing allowed for Red Drum in Louisiana) from coastal waters as juveniles and make it into the offshore spawning stock. The escape rate limit established for management is 30%; Louisiana’s escapement rate is currently 20%, indicating that too few Red Drum survive to reach the high seas to spawn. LDWF must take steps to rebuild the population to (or above) the minimum evacuation level. We are considering several options for management changes to reduce harvest levels and allow the stock to recover.
Your opinion is a critical step in the fisheries management process. As we have identified several management options that will allow the Red Drum stock to potentially recover, we will compile the information we receive from all public input forums and present a summary of angler preferences to the LWFC for consideration.
We encourage you to review the information at for more information on the status of Red Drum and these potential management changes.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. LDWF receives no general state funding and relies on license sales as a major source of funding. Help us protect your hunting and fishing heritage while preserving habitat, wildlife and aquatic resources by purchasing your license at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email or text alerts, sign up here.