U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Boating Regulations Cameron Prairie, Lacassine, and Sabine The Southwest Louisiana General Fishing Regulations for the fishes should try fishing at Cameron Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Prairie’s East Cove Unit and Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Refuge Complex NWR’s roadside recreation area wharfs Fishing regulations are designed to and tidal marshes throughout the refuge. Complex consists of Cameron protect the and wildlife Freshwater species include largemouth populations. Fishing seasons and bass, , crappie, sunfish, and bowfin. Prairie, Lacassine, Sabine activities on the Complex are listed Saltwater species include flounder, within this brochure. The regulations redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. and Shell Keys National within this brochure supplement the Wildlife Refuges (NWR). general regulations that govern fishing Crabbing on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth No license is required to recreationally The headquarters office is in the Title 50 Volume 6 Chapter 1 Parts crab with a crab net and/or hand line. See 18-199 Code of Federal Regulations refuge specific regulations for crabbing located at Cameron Prairie http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. opportunities. National Wildlife Refuge. All fishing, crabbing, and cast netting Cast netting on refuges are in accordance with Each person is required to have valid The Complex provides a wide applicable State licensing. basic and saltwater licenses to for shrimp. Cast nets must be less than variety of wildlife dependent Individuals utilizing the refuges are 8.5 feet in radius. Recreational cast subject to inspections of licenses, fishing netting for shrimp is only permitted public uses such as hunting, equipment, daily limits, boats, vehicles during the Louisiana inshore water and their contents by federal and state shrimp season. See refuge specific fishing, wildlife photography, officers. regulations for additional information. environmental education, Requirements Possession Limits Fishing Daily fish limits are the same as wildlife interpretation and All recreational anglers must possess Louisiana’s Sport Fishing Limits. The a valid basic Louisiana fishing license; daily crab limit is five dozen (60) per day observation. additionally all recreational anglers per vehicle or boat. The daily shrimp fishing south of the state designated limit during the Louisiana inshore shrimp For more information about “saltwater line” for saltwater species season is five gallons of heads-on shrimp must have in their possession a Louisiana per day, per vehicle or boat. The daily these refuges visit our web saltwater angler’s license in addition bait shrimp limit is one gallon per day to their basic Louisiana fishing license. per boat. site at https://www.fws.gov/ To review additional information, Universal Access cameron_prairie/ the Louisiana Regulations may be found at www.wlf. Several universally accessible fishing louisiana.gov. docks are available at Lacassine and Sabine NWRs. For further assistance Southwest Louisiana Fishing is permitted with rod and reel contact our Refuge Complex office at National Wildlife Refuge or pole and line only on Cameron Prairie 337/598 2216. Complex Headquarters and Lacassine NWR’s. Sabine NWR permits jug fishing in designated areas in Boat, Motor and Operation Limits 1428 Highway 27 Outboard motors and go-devil type or Bell City, LA 70630 addition to rod and reel and pole and line fishing. See refuge specific regulations. air cooled motors may be operated in Phone: 337/598 2216 designated refuge lakes, canals, bayous, Fax: 337/598 2492 Anglers seeking freshwater fishing and boat trails. Operation of any outboard opportunities should try Lacassine, or air cooled motor in refuge marshes Website: Cameron Prairie’s Gibbstown Unit and is prohibited. The operation of https://www.fws.gov/cameron_prairie/ the fresher interior waters of Sabine motors is permitted, unless specifically NWR. Those anglers seeking saltwater prohibited. September 2019 1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Activities Prohibited throughout Signs Protect Visitors and Resources conditions and stop marsh erosion by the SW Louisiana Refuge Complex controlling salt water intrusion. n Taking or possession of any wildlife NATIONAL National Wildlife Refuge WILDLIFE This sign marks the Closed Areas: Areas designated by No including crawfish, alligators, turtles, REFUGE frogs, snakes. boundary of the refuge. Fishing or Area Closed signs are closed Consult the refuge manager for safety or management purposes. UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED n U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR for authorized activities. Leaving boats on refuge property FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Season: Public access into East Cove overnight. Area Closed Unit is open year round, except during n Dragging, jumping or rolling boats over Certain areas of the refuge the Louisiana coastal zone waterfowl are closed to visitors for hunting season or when Grand Bayou levees. AREA U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE BEYOND SERVICE safety and management boat bay is closed. When Grand Bayou

D E R P O A I THIS R R T E M T EN IN n Use of air thrust boats, all terrain SIGN T OF THE purposes. Unauthorized boat bay is closed, the East Cove Unit CLOSED is closed to ALL public use. For boat vehicles (ATV’s), or jet skis. All public entry prohibited entry beyond this sign is prohibited. bay openings/closures, please call n The sale, offer for sale, of any fish, crab, 855/532 9955. shrimp or other wildlife resource taken No Vehicles from the refuge. Unauthorized motor vehicles Hours: Boat admittance into the refuge are not allowed beyond this is permitted from one hour before legal n Feeding or approaching wildlife. sign. This applies to all cars, sunrise until one hour after legal sunset; however, recreational fishing, crabbing, NO VEHICLES trucks, jeeps, ATV’s, and n Possession of glass containers. motorcycles. Walking and and cast netting activities are prohibited non‑motorized bicycles are until legal sunrise and after legal sunset. n Littering. allowed. Please do not block Access: All State boating regulations n Cleaning fish and game within 50 yards No access through refuge gates. must be followed. Outboard motors and of maintained roads, docks, parking lots Wake No Wake Zone go-devil type or air cooled motors may or public use areas. Boat speeds are managed to be operated in refuge canals, bayous and Zone lakes. Trolling motors may be operated in n Swimming or wading. improve public safety and to reduce bank erosion. refuge marshes. There are no horsepower restrictions on boat motors; however, the n Blocking gates or roadways with No Parking Grand Bayou boat bay passage into the vehicles. Parking of all motor Unit is only 10 feet wide. Boat passage No vehicles is prohibited through Grand Bayou water control n Driving nails or other objects Parking into boardwalks and other refuge where designated by signs. structure is permitted only when the structures. This applies to all cars, boat bay is completely open. Public use trucks, jeeps, ATV’s and within this unit is restricted to boat use n Marking trails with tape, ribbons, motorcycles. Please adhere only. Walking, wading, and/or climbing in paper, paint, flagging, reflective tacks, to all no parking signs. or on the marsh, levees, or structures is etc. Do not block or impede prohibited. access to boat ramps, boat n Removal of any object or equipment launching areas, road Permitted Activities, Gear, owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife entrances/exits and gates. and Possession Limits Service Fishing: Fishing is permitted with rod Cameron Prairie and reel or pole and line only. The use or n Cutting or removing any live National Wildlife Refuge possession of any other type of fishing gear including: limb, trot, or jug lines and vegetation, limbs, etc. Cameron Prairie National Wildlife gill, trammel, or hoop nets is prohibited Refuge, established in 1988, is located n Camping and/or overnight parking in all refuge waters. The daily fish limits in Cameron Parish in southwestern are the same as Louisiana’s Sport Fishing Louisiana. Cameron Prairie NWR n Disturbing, collecting, injuring, or limits. attempting to disturb, collect, or injure consists of two separate and distinct any plant, artifact, rock, or animal on units, East Cove Unit and Gibbstown Crabbing: Crabs may be taken with hand any refuge. Unit. lines or drop nets. Only cotton line and East Cove Unit of Cameron Prairie NWR drop nets up to 24” outside diameter n Pets roaming at large. All pets must be may be used. Floats on crab lines are The East Cove Unit consists of 14,927 leashed at all times. prohibited. All hand lines, drop nets, and acres of intermediate and brackish bait must be removed from the refuge marshes. It is bordered on the west by upon leaving. The daily crab limit is five5 Calcasieu Lake and on the north, south dozen (60) crabs per day, per vehicle or and east by privately owned marshes. It boat. is part of a 64,000 acre marsh restoration program known as the Cameron Creole Cast netting: Recreational cast netting Watershed Project. for shrimp is permitted during the Louisiana inshore waters shrimp season Five water control structures and only. Cast nets must be less than 8.5 feet a protection levee improve marsh 2 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in radius. The daily shrimp limit is five Closed Areas: Areas designated by No Outfall Canal runs east-west and is gallons of heads-on shrimp per day, per Fishing or Area Closed signs are closed located 1.5 miles north of the Gulf vehicle or boat. Cast netting for bait is for safety or management purposes. Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) off of permitted year round. The shrimp limit, North Canal, which runs north-south. when cast netting for bait outside the Season/Hours: Bank fishing and cast Outfall Canal can only be accessed by Louisiana inshore waters shrimp season, netting for bait are permitted year round, boat. To access the Outfall canal, boats is one gallon per day per vehicle or sunrise to sunset, along Bank Fishing can be launched at the public launch boat. Cast netters must maintain actual Road. Boat admittance into the refuge is under the Gibbstown Bridge on Highway custody of shrimp while on the refuge. permitted from March 15 - October 15, 27. Proceed east in the GIWW for about from one hour before legal sunrise until 2 miles and take the first left (north) into Sportfishing guides: A Special Use one hour after legal sunset; however, North canal. Travel approximately 1.5 Permit is required to operate as a fishing and cast netting activities are miles and Outfall Canal will be on the left. sportfishing guide within East Cove Unit prohibited until legal sunrise and after and Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Call legal sunset. 337/598 2216 for details. Access: Fishing and Cameron Prairie Fishing Maps Safety Warning: Use extreme caution when cast netting for bait are entering or exiting the Grand Bayou boat permitted along Bank bay. If two boats are motoring to enter Fishing Road, Roadside the boat bay, the boat traveling with the Canal, and a two-mile current has the right-of-way and the boat stretch of Outfall traveling against the current must give Canal. Motorized boats way to the oncoming boat. Boaters are with no horsepower urged to wear their life jackets whenever restriction are under power. permitted in the Outfall canal. Nonmotorized Gibbstown Unit of Cameron Prairie NWR boats may be used in The Gibbstown Unit contains 9,621 acres Roadside Canal and of fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and old waterways accessible rice fields. It is managed primarily to from Bank Fishing provide habitat for wintering waterfowl Road. All State boating and other water birds. regulations must be followed.

Sulphur 10 90 Lake 10 Charles 27 210 14 384 Holmwood 14 385 27 Intracoastal Cameron Prairie Waterway National Wildlife Refuge 384 Sweet Hackberry Lake

27 East Cove Unit Gibbstown

Calcasieu 27 Lake

Creole Cameron 27 Holly Oak Grove Grand 27 Cheniere Beach 82 82 Paddling Gulf of Mexico 3 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Cameron Prairie NWR Specific Fishing Regulations Recreation Area Permitted Activities Open Season/Time East Cove Unit Boat access Year round except during the coastal zone Louisiana waterfowl season or when Grand Bayou boat bay is closed. One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. East Cove Unit Fishing & crabbing from a boat Year round except during the coastal zone Louisiana waterfowl season or when Grand Bayou boat bay is closed, sunrise to sunset. East Cove Unit Cast netting for shrimp from a boat. Limit: Louisiana Inshore Shrimp season only, sunrise to sunset. 5 gallon heads on shrimp per day per boat. East Cove Unit Cast netting for bait outside the LA Inshore Year round except during the coastal zone Louisiana Shrimp season from a boat. Limit:1 gallon waterfowl season or when Grand Bayou boat bay is closed, shrimp sunrise to sunset. Gibbstown Unit Visitor Center Wildlife observation, photography, Year round, sunrise to sunset Boardwalks & Pond environmental education & interpretation Gibbstown Unit Bank Fishing Cast netting for bait, bankfishing, paddling Year round, sunrise to sunset. Road Canal & Roadside Canals nonmotorized boats Gibbstown Unit Bank Fishing Wildlife observation & photography Year round, sunrise to sunset. Road Gibbstown Unit Pintail Wildlife Wildlife observation & photography Year round, sunrise to sunset. Drive Gibbstown Unit Outfall Canal Fishing & cast netting for bait, paddling March 15 to October 15, sunrise to sunset. nonmotorized boats

Gibbstown Unit of Cameron Prairie NWR several game species. Fishes present Permitted Activities, Gear, (continued) include largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and Possession Limits Permitted Activities, Gear, catfish, and bowfin (Choupique). Fishing: Only fishing with rod and reel and Possession Limits or pole and line is permitted in refuge Fishing Certain State waterways that flow waters. The use or possession of any Fishing is permitted with rod and reel or through the refuge are not subject to other type of fishing gear including limb, pole and line only. The use or possession special refuge fishing regulations. These trot and jug lines and gill, trammel, of any other type of fishing gear including: waterways include Lacassine Bayou, and hoop nets is prohibited in all refuge limb, trot, or jug lines and gill, trammel, Bayou Misere, Mermentau River and waters. or hoop nets is prohibited in all refuge Mud Lake (see map). Anglers should waters. The daily fish limits are the same consult the State regulations for special Access: Follow speed limits on refuge as Louisiana’s Sport Fishing limits. restrictions in these waterways. All side roads to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife canals, coves, bays, marshes and ponds mortality. Cast netting: off these waterways are subject to Cast netting for bait is permitted in refuge fishing regulations. Lacassine Pool: Only boats with motors accordance with state regulations and of 40 horsepower or less may be used in when units are open for fishing only. The Closed Areas Lacassine Pool. Boaters are encouraged shrimp limit, when cast netting for bait Fishing is prohibited in the headquarters to reduce travel speeds at boat run outside the Louisiana inshore waters display pond and bank fishing is intersections. Trailered boats may only shrimp season, is one gallon per day prohibited on the Lacassine Pool be launched into Lacassine Pool at public per vehicle or boat. Cast nets must be Wildlife Drive. Other areas may be boat launches with cement boat ramps. emptied directly into a container. Cast closed to fishing or boating for safety or management purposes as designated by Units A & C: Boats are prohibited in netters must maintain actual custody of Lacassine Units A and C. shrimp while on the refuge. No Fishing or Area Closed signs. Season/Hours Unit D: Only boats with trolling motors Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Boat and bank fishing in Lacassine Pool, or without motors are permitted within Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge was Streeter’s Area, and refuge waters are Lacassine Unit D. Boats may be hand established in 1937 to preserve wintering permitted March 15 through October launched from Tidewater Road. habitat for waterfowl in the coastal 15. Streeter Road Fishing Pier is prairie of southwestern Louisiana. Refuge Canals and Bayous outside Lacassine open to bank fishing year round. Boat Pool: Motorized boats may be used in scattered uplands. The dominant feature admittance into the refuge is permitted of the refuge is Lacassine Pool which was canals and bayous outside Lacassine Pool from one hour before legal sunrise until unless posted by Area Closed signs. created by enclosing a 16,000-acre marsh one hour after legal sunset; however, with a low levee. The refuge is noted for fishing activities are prohibited until legal Horsepower is not restricted for motors its large concentrations of waterfowl and sunrise and after legal sunset. used in these canals and bayous. other fish and wildlife species, including 4 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Lacassine NWR Specific Fishing Regulations Recreation Area Permitted Activities Open Season/Time Lacassine Pool Boat launching and travel, boat motors 40 hp or less, launch March 15 to October 15 One hour before at cement boat launches only sunrise to one hour after sunset. Lacassine Pool Fishing & crabbing March 15 to October 15, sunrise to sunset Units D Boat travel with trolling motors or without motors may be March 15 to October 15 hand launched into this unit from Tidewater Road. Vehicles One hour before sunrise to one hour after & boat trailers must remain on the gravel roadway. sunset. Units D Fishing & crabbing March 15 to October 15, sunrise to sunset. Canals & bayous outside Boat travel, no horsepower restrictions March 15 to October 15 One hour before Lacassine Pool sunrise to one hour after sunset. Canals & bayous outside Fishing March 15 to October 15, sunrise to sunset. Lacassine Pool Refuge marshes outside Access restricted to walking, push poling, paddling or March 15 to October 15 One hour before Lacassine Pool rowing. sunrise to one hour after sunset. Refuge marshes outside Fishing March 15 to October 15, sunrise to sunset. Lacassine Pool Streeter Road Fishing Pier Bank Fishing Year round, sunrise to sunset. Lacassine Pool Drive Wildlife observation & photography only Year round, sunrise to sunset. Lacassine Office Site Wildlife observation & photography only Year round, sunrise to sunset.

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge Closed Areas However, fishing, crabbing, and cast (continued) Roadsides and bridges are closed to all netting for bait are prohibited until legal Marshes: Access into refuge marshes and activities throughout the refuge. No sunrise and after legal sunset. ponds outside Lacassine Pool is restricted crabbing, fishing, or cast netting are All persons without boats may not enter to walking, poling, paddling, rowing or permitted from the Blue Goose Trail the refuge, including parking areas, until trolling motors. Motors may not be used or the Wetland Walkway, including legal sunrise and must leave the property in refuge marshes. associated entrance bridges, drives, by legal sunset. Bank fishing and parking areas, walking trails, and crabbing are open year round from legal Safety Warning surrounding areas. Motorboat travel on the refuge may be sunrise until legal sunset at North line, hazardous due to narrow boat runs, rough Areas closed to boats for fishing, crabbing Hog Island Gully, Blue Crab, and West water, limited visibility, fog, vegetation, and/or cast netting include under the Cove Recreation Areas. and swells from towboats, barges and bridges to the water control structures Boat, Motor and Operation Limits crew boats. Please look for and obey at Hog Island Gully and West Cove Outboard motors and go-devil type or air posted No Wake Zones. These areas are Recreation Areas, the canal on both sides cooled motors may be operated only in posted to keep visitors safe and to protect of the entrance bridge to the Wetland designated lakes, refuge canals, bayous, nesting birds and/ or their habitat. Walkway, and the canal adjacent to the and boat trails. Operation of any outboard Blue Goose Trail parking lot and walking or air cooled motor in the refuge marshes Tournaments path. is prohibited. The operation of trolling Individuals or representatives of Fishing, crabbing, and cast netting motors is permitted. Access into areas organizations seeking to sponsor or prohibited in waterfowl hunt areas when beyond designated named waterways is participate in fishing tournaments on the hunting is in progress during September restricted to movement by push poling, refuge should contact the refuge manager Teal season. paddling, or trolling motors only. for special restrictions. Additional areas designated by No Public Boat Launches: There is one Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Fishing, crabbing or cast netting or improved boat launch at Northline Sabine National Wildlife Refuge was Area Closed signs are also closed to Recreation Area; it is open March 15 established in 1937 to preserve a large fishing, crabbing or cast netting for safety through October 15 and allows boat area of coastal wetlands for wintering and and/or management purposes. access into the western interior of the migrating waterfowl from the Mississippi refuge. There are two improved boat and Central Flyways. This 124,511 acre Seasons/Hours Fishing, crabbing, and cast netting for launches accessible from the south refuge also serves as a major nursery for parking lot of the Hog Island Gully many estuarine-dependent marine species bait from a boat are permitted March 15 - October 15 throughout the refuge. Boat Recreation Area; both launches are open and is home to numerous alligators, other from March 15 through October 15. reptiles, mammals, amphibians, and admittance into the refuge is permitted migrating and nesting birds. from one hour before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset. 5 U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceLacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Lacassine Fishing Map 14

Not to scale

UNIT F

(boat access only)

4 miles to LA 14 LA 3056 d r Roa N te e

4 miles to LA 14 Mermentau River Road e r

8 miles to Bell City t Illinois Plant Road Nature Road The Duck Pond S Garys Landing UNIT C UNIT UNIT B A Little North North Willow Cutoff RIVER Lake Lake Willow Island UNIT D To Lake Arthur

Lone TAU EN Cypress M

Tidewater Road Tidewater R E U M O Y Streeter’s A Canal Long B Cutoff

E South G1 IN S LACASSINE POOL S Pond A Brown C LA Island Short G3 Cutoff Twin Sisters

GRAND LAKE Mango

Ridge Bell City Drainage Canal G2 Target Area Blue Grove Lacassine Legend Onion Hill LAPointCASSINE Black Grove POINT MUDMUD Refuge Boundary LAKELAKELAK Roads Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Boat Runs Pipeline Canal LATANIA Levee 7 miles to Gibbstown LATANIA LLAKEAKE Wildlife Drive

LI TT Refuge Waterways M LE I L SE AK Wilderness Area R E E Headquarters Complex: LAKE Office, Visitor Contact Station, Maintenance MISERE 0 Miles 1 Area, Boathouse

0 Kilo 1 Public Boat Launching Observation Area Parking Area Sabine National Wildlife Refuge There are two unimproved boat launches universal Handicapped Fishing Pier (continued) at Blue Crab recreation area available for accessible Water Control Structure The first or western most launch allows hand launching non-motorized boats only, docks for boat access into the western interior of into 1A and 1B, year round. visitors to Boat Crossing the refuge, the second or eastern most safely fish Walk-in youth/senior Units 1A and 1B: Only vehicles without waterfowl hunt area launch allows access into the eastern and/or trailers of any kind may enter and park in Gate portion of the refuge and into Calcasieu crab. Blue the Blue Crab Recreation area. Only non- Lake. Crab motorized boats may be hand launched Recreation has limited parking and no and used in Unit 1B. Unit 1A may be There is an improved saltwater boat improved docks, however, visitors are accessed by boat with the use of a trolling launch at the North parking lot of West welcome to bank fish and crab here. Only motor from Roadside or Northline canals, Cove recreation area which is open year- vehicles without trailers of any kind March 15-October 15. Outboard motors round for fishing access into Calcasieu may enter and park in the Blue Crab are prohibited. Lake. West Cove canal is closed to fishing Recreation area. from October 16 though March 14, and is only open for boat passage during this Unit 3: Boat access into Unit 3 is Notice available by passing through wide bays time. Due to the limited amount of dock space in the Northwest and East spillway available for visitors to enjoy recreational There are two improved boat launches structures. Only boats with motors of 40 fishing and crabbing, all visitors are accessible from the south parking lot of horsepower or less are permitted. West Cove recreation area open from asked to share the space available and March 15 through October 15. These Roadside (Highway 27) Recreation welcome new visitors. No person is launches allow boat access into the Areas: Northline, Hog Island Gully, and permitted to reserve a place or save western interior of the refuge. West Cove Recreation Areas all provide a space for themselves or others by 6 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Sabine NWR Fishing Map

-93 31 44.2 29 56 34.0

N. Backridge Lake Brown’s Lake Greens Lake Back Ridge S. Backridge Canal Lake

West Trapper Rita Central Canal Willow East Willow Burton Shack Lake Road Old North Lake Bayou Bayou Lake Lake Bayou Lake Lake Gar Fish Canal

1A, 1B and 3. Jugs upon leaving. The daily crab limit is five are limited to 10 dozen (60) crabs per day, per vehicle or per boat and must boat. be attended at all times. All jugs must Cast netting for shrimp: Cast netting be marked with the for shrimp is permitted from boats only. attendants fishing Cast netting is permitted during the license number and Louisiana inshore shrimp seasons from must be removed legal sunrise to legal sunset in all refuge from the refuge canals, unless posted as Closed. This activity must follow all state and refuge placing unattended equipment in these daily. The use or possession of any other type of fishing gear including: limb and regulations. The daily shrimp limit is areas. All persons are prohibited from five gallons of heads-on shrimp per day, interfering with other persons engaged trot lines, and gill, trammel, and hoop nets are prohibited in all refuge waters. per vehicle or boat. All by-catch must be in recreational activities on the refuge immediately returned to the water before including boat launching and loading. The daily fish limits are the same as Louisiana’s Sport Fishing limits. cast netting can continue. Permitted Activities, Gear, Crabbing: Crabs may be taken with hand Cast netters must maintain actual and Possession Limits custody of shrimp while on the refuge. Fishing: Recreational fishing with rod lines or drop nets. Only cotton line and drop nets up to 24” outside diameter This means the transfer of shrimp to and reel, pole and line, and/ or jug lines another individual, boat, or vehicle or the only is permitted. Jug line fishingis may be used. Floats on crab lines are prohibited. All hand lines, drop nets, and placement of shrimp at a location outside permitted in designated waterways open of the cast netters immediate custody is to fishing. It is prohibited inside Units bait must be removed from the refuge 7 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

27 Legend Parking Roadside Brown’s Fishing Lake Northline Recreation Crabbing Recreation Area Boat launching Northline Canal Restrooms Visitor contact station MANAGEMENT Hog Island ? Information Gully Wildlife observation UNIT 1A Recreation Roadside Canal Photography Area North Hiking Hog Island Gully Canal Paddling Hog Island Accessible Gully Recreation Area South Headquarters Site Paddle Bayou Backridge Canal Blue Blue Crab Goose Recreation Area Trail MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENTUNIT 1B Headquarters UNIT Canal BACKRIDGE Shell WEST COVE BRIDGE Byway Ditch Observation Canal Pull Off Central Wetland Canal Walkway 27 Central Goose Grit Site Canal Road West Cove Recreation Area North West Cove Canal West Cove Recreation 27 Area South Blue Goose Trail

MANAGEMENT legal sunset. The shrimp limit UNIT when cast netting for bait The Creole Nature Trail WEST COVE outside the Louisiana inshore All American Road shrimp season is one gallon. Sportfishing guides: A Special Use Permit is required to operate as a sportfishing guide within East Cove Unit and Sabine National prohibited. Cast netting is prohibited at Wildlife Refuge. Call 337/598 2216 for Please look for and obey all posted No all recreation areas including Northline, details. Wake Zones. These areas are posted to Hog Island Gully, Blue Goose Trail, keep visitors safe and to protect nesting Safety Warning Blue Crab, West Cove, and the Wetland birds and/ or their habitat. Most of the Motorboat travel on the refuge may be Walkway. newly designed lakes are only 12 - 24” hazardous due to narrow boat runs, rough in depth, so it is important to know your Cast netting for bait: Cast netting for bait water, limited visibility, fog, vegetation, boat and motor operation limits to ensure is permitted from boats only, March 15 blind crossings, and swells or wakes from that you get in and out safely. through October 15, from legal sunrise to other boats, barges or crew boats. 8 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Sabine NWR Recreation Opportunities Recreation Area Permitted Activities Open Season/Time Northline Fishing, crabbing Year round, sunrise to sunset

Northline Boat launching-access to interior marshes March 15 - October 15, one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset Hog Island Gully Fishing, crabbing Year round, sunrise to sunset

Hog Island Gully Boat launching and kayak, canoe, and pirogue access to March 15 - October 15, one hour before sunrise to one hour interior refuge marshes and Calcasieu Lake after sunset Hog Island Gully Non-motorized kayak, canoe, pirogue launching into Hog October 16 - March 14, one hour before sunrise to one hour Island Gully Canal east of water control structure for after sunset recreational paddling only Blue Goose Trail Hiking, photography, wildlife observation, interpretation, Year round, sunrise to sunset environmental education Blue Crab Fishing, crabbing Year round, sunrise to sunset

Blue Crab Non-motorized boat launching into Units 1A and 1B for March 15 - October 15, one hour before sunrise to one hour paddling, wildlife observation, photography and fishing after sunset Blue Crab Non-motorized boat launching into Units 1A and 1B for October 16 - March 14, one hour before sunrise to one hour paddling, wildlife observation, photography and fishing after sunset Byway Pull Off Wildlife observation and photography Year round, sunrise to sunset

West Cove Fishing, crabbing Year round, sunrise to sunset

West Cove Boat launching to access interior refuge marshes and March 15 - October 15, one hour before sunrise to one hour Calcasieu Lake after sunset West Cove Boat launching for boat passage to Calcasieu Lake and October 16 - March 14, one hour before sunrise to one hour vicinity only after sunset Wetland Walkway Restrooms, hiking, wildlife observation, photography, Year round, sunrise to sunset interpretation, environmental education Interior canals, bayous & ponds Boat access and travel March 15 - October 15, one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset Interior canals, bayous & ponds Fishing, crabbing March 15 - October 15, sunrise to sunset

Interior canals, bayous & ponds Cast netting for shrimp from a boat Louisiana Inshore Shrimp season, sunrise - sunset

Interior canals, bayous & ponds Cast netting for bait from a boat. Bait shrimp limit outside March 15 - October 15, sunrise to sunset LA inshore shrimp season is one gallon.

9