U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex Fishing Regulations Cameron Prairie, Lacassine, and Sabine The Southwest Louisiana Requirements during the Louisiana inshore water National Wildlife Refuge Complex Fishing shrimp season. See refuge specific All recreational anglers must possess regulations for additional information. consists of Cameron Prairie, a valid basic Louisiana fishing license; Lacassine, Sabine and Shell additionally all recreational anglers Possession Limits fishing south of the state designated Daily fish limits are the same as Keys National Wildlife Refuges Louisiana’s Sport Fishing Limits. The (NWR). The headquarters office “saltwater line” for saltwater species must have in their possession a Louisiana daily crab limit is five dozen (60) per day is located at Cameron Prairie saltwater angler’s license in addition per vehicle or boat. The daily shrimp National Wildlife Refuge. The to their basic Louisiana fishing license. limit during the Louisiana inshore shrimp season is five gallons of heads-on shrimp Complex provides a wide variety To review additional information, the Louisiana Recreational Fishing per day, per vehicle or boat. The daily of wildlife dependent public uses Regulations may be found at www.wlf. bait shrimp limit is one gallon per day such as hunting, fishing, wildlife louisiana.gov. per boat. photography, environmental Fishing is permitted with rod and reel Universal Access education, wildlife interpretation or pole and line only on Cameron Prairie Several universally accessible fishing and observation. and Lacassine NWR’s. Sabine NWR docks are available at Lacassine and permits jug fishing in designated areas in Sabine NWRs. For further assistance For more information about these addition to rod and reel and pole and line contact our Refuge Complex office at refuges visit our web site at http:// fishing. See refuge specific regulations. 337/598 2216. www.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex Anglers seeking freshwater fishing Boat, Motor and Operation Limits opportunities should try Lacassine, Outboard motors and go-devil type General Fishing Regulations for the Cameron Prairie’s Gibbstown Unit and or air cooled motors may be operated Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife the fresher interior waters of Sabine in designated refuge canals, bayous, Refuge Complex NWR. Those anglers seeking saltwater and boat trails only. Operation of any Fishing regulations are designed to fishes should try fishing at Cameron outboard or air cooled motor in refuge protect the fisherman and wildlife Prairie’s East Cove Unit and Sabine marshes is prohibited. The operation populations. Fishing seasons and NWR’s roadside recreation area wharfs of trolling motors is permitted, unless activities on the Complex are listed and tidal marshes throughout the refuge. specifically prohibited. within this brochure. The regulations Freshwater species include largemouth Activities Prohibited throughout within this brochure supplement the bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and bowfin. general regulations that govern fishing the SW Louisiana Refuge Complex Saltwater species include flounder, n Leaving boats on refuge property on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. overnight. in the Title 50 Volume 6 Chapter 1 Parts 18-199 Code of Federal Regulations Crabbing n Dragging, jumping or rolling boats over http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. No license is required to recreationally levees. crab with a crab net and/or hand line. See n Use of air thrust boats, all terrain All fishing, crabbing, and cast netting refuge specific regulations for crabbing vehicles (ATV’s), or jet skis. on refuges are in accordance with opportunities. applicable State licensing. n Taking or possession of any wildlife Cast netting including alligators, turtles, frogs, Individuals utilizing the refuges are Each person is required to have valid snakes, crawfish. subject to inspections of licenses, fishing basic and saltwater licenses to cast net n The sale, offer for sale, of any fish, crab, equipment, daily limits, boats, vehicles for shrimp. Cast nets must be less than shrimp or other wildlife resource taken and their contents by federal and state 8.5 feet in radius. Recreational cast from the refuge. officers. netting for shrimp is only permitted Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Office hours: 7:30 am - 4 pm Monday-Friday Complex Headquarters 1428 Highway 27 Website: http://www.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex Bell City, LA 70630 Phone: 337/598 2216 Fax: 337/598 2492 email: [email protected] U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service n Feeding or approaching wildlife. Cameron Prairie 10 n Possession of glass containers. Sulphur NWR Specific 90 n Littering. Lake Fishing Regulations 10 Charles n Fires. Cameron Prairie 27 210 n Swimming or wading. National Wildlife Refuge, 14 established in 1988, is n Blocking gates or roadways with 384 located in Cameron Parish Holmwood 14 vehicles. 385 in southwestern Louisiana. 27 n Driving nails or other objects Cameron Prairie NWR into boardwalks and other refuge consists of two separate and Intracoastal Cameron Prairie structures. distinct units, East Cove Waterway National Wildlife Refuge n Unit and Gibbstown Unit. 384 Marking trails with tape, ribbons, paper, Sweet paint, flagging, reflective tacks, etc. East Cove Unit of Cameron Hackberry Lake n Removal of any object or equipment Prairie NWR owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife The East Cove Unit Service consists of 14,927 acres of 27 East Cove Unit Gibbstown n Cutting or removing any live intermediate and brackish marshes. It is bordered vegetation, limbs, etc. Calcasieu 27 on the west by Calcasieu Lake n Camping and/or overnight parking Lake and on the north, n Disturbing, collecting, injuring, or south and east by privately Creole attempting to disturb, collect, or injure owned marshes. It is part Cameron 27 Holly Oak Grove Grand any plant, artifact, rock, or animal on of a 64,000 acre marsh Beach 27 82 Cheniere any refuge. restoration program 82 Gulf of Mexi n Pets roaming at large. All pets must be known as the Cameron co leashed at all times. Creole Watershed Project. Five water control or on the marsh, levees, or structures is Signs Protect Visitors and Resources structures and a protection levee improve prohibited. marsh conditions and stop marsh erosion National Wildlife by controlling salt water intrusion. Permitted Activities, Gear, and NATIONAL Refuge Possession Limits WILDLIFE REFUGE This sign marks Closed Areas: Areas designated by No Fishing: Fishing is permitted with rod the boundary of the Fishing or Area Closed signs are closed and reel or pole and line only. The use or refuge. Consult the for safety or management purposes. possession of any other type of fishing UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY refuge manager for gear including: limb, trot, or jug lines and PROHIBITED Season: Public access into East Cove Unit U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE authorized activities. gill, trammel, or hoop nets is prohibited is open year round, except during the in all refuge waters. The daily fish limits Area Closed Louisiana west zone waterfowl hunting Certain areas of the are the same as Louisiana’s Sport Fishing season or when Grand Bayou boat bay is limits. refuge are closed to closed. When Grand Bayou boat bay is visitors for safety and AREA U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE closed, the East Cove Unit is closed to Crabbing: Crabs may be taken with hand BEYOND management purposes. ALL public use. lines or drop nets. Only cotton line and D E R P O A I THIS R R T E M T EN IN Unauthorized entry SIGN T OF THE drop nets up to 24” outside diameter CLOSED beyond this sign is Hours: Boat admittance into the refuge may be used. Floats on crab lines are All public entry prohibited prohibited. is permitted from one hour before legal prohibited. All hand lines, drop nets, and No Vehicles sunrise until one hour after legal sunset; bait must be removed from the refuge Unauthorized motor however, recreational fishing, crabbing, upon leaving. The daily crab limit is 5 vehicles are not and cast netting activities are prohibited dozen (60) crabs per day, per vehicle or allowed beyond this until legal sunrise and after legal sunset. boat. sign. This applies Access: All State boating regulations to all cars, trucks, Cast netting: Recreational cast netting must be followed. Outboard motors and for shrimp is permitted during the jeeps, ATV’s, and go-devil type or air cooled motors may motorcycles. Walking Louisiana inshore waters shrimp season NO VEHICLES be operated in refuge canals, bayous and and non-motorized only. Cast nets must be less than 8.5 feet lakes. Trolling motors may be operated in in radius. The daily shrimp limit is five bicycles are allowed. refuge marshes. There are no horsepower Please do not block gallons of heads-on shrimp per day, per restrictions on boat motors; however, the vehicle or boat. Cast netting for bait is access through refuge Grand Bayou boat bay passage into the gates. permitted year round. The shrimp limit, No Unit is only 10 feet wide. Boat passage when cast netting for bait outside the Wake No Wake Zone through Grand Bayou water control Louisiana inshore waters shrimp season, Boat speeds are structure is permitted only when the is one gallon per day per vehicle or Zone managed to improve boat bay is completely open. Public use boat. Cast netters must maintain actual public safety and to within this unit is restricted to boat use custody of shrimp while on the refuge. reduce bank erosion. only. Walking, wading, and/or climbing in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Cameron Prairie NWR Specific Cameron Prairie Fishing Maps Fishing Regulations (continued) Sportfishing guides: A Special Use Permit is required to operate as a sportfishing guide within the East Cove unit. Call 337/598 2216 for details. Safety Warning: Use extreme caution when entering or exiting the Grand Bayou boat bay.