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HCR5 • 2026

FISHING: Amends Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules regarding red drum harvest

FISHING: Amends Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules regarding red drum harvest

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Joseph Orgeron
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
Sent to the Secretary of State
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how many tournaments will be eligible for special permits or what happens if a tournament fails to meet eligibility requirements.

Amends Red Drum Fishing Rules

This resolution changes the rules for catching red drum fish to allow certain long-standing fishing tournaments to continue offering categories for larger red drum, known as bull reds.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to issue special permits for harvesting red drum over twenty-seven inches in specific tournaments that meet eligibility requirements.
  • Sets eligibility requirements for tournaments to qualify for these special permits, such as having been held regularly for five years or more and including bull red categories.
  • Limits qualifying tournaments to no longer than four days long and happening once a year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Fishing tournament organizers who meet the eligibility requirements set by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
  • Fishermen participating in these specific fishing tournaments.

Terms To Know

Red Drum
A type of fish also known as bull red, which is regulated for recreational harvest.
Special Permit
A permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries allowing fishing beyond normal size limits in certain tournaments.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify how many tournaments will be eligible for special permits.
  • It is unclear what happens if a tournament fails to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the new rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 H

    Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

  2. 2026-05-28 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  3. 2026-05-28 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  4. 2026-05-28 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  5. 2026-05-28 S

    Read by title and concurred in by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays. Ordered returned to the House.

  6. 2026-05-27 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  7. 2026-05-26 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  8. 2026-05-26 S

    Rules suspended.

  9. 2026-05-21 S

    Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

  10. 2026-04-28 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

  11. 2026-04-27 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  12. 2026-04-27 H

    Read by title, roll called on final consideration, yeas 94, nays 0. The resolution was adopted and ordered to the Senate.

  13. 2026-04-22 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 04/27/2026.

  14. 2026-04-15 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  15. 2026-04-14 H

    Reported favorably (11-0).

  16. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  17. 2026-02-27 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  18. 2026-02-27 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

FISHING: Amends Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules regarding red drum harvest

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To enact the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rule, LAC 76:VII.363(A)(4), which
provides for red drum harvest; to create an exception to the prohibition against
harvesting red drum over regulatory size limits; to authorize the department to issue
special permits for bull red harvest for certain limited tournaments; to provide for
eligibility requirements for tournaments; to provide for related matters; and to direct
the office of the state register to print the amendments in the Louisiana
Administrative Code.
WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regulates the recreational
harvest of red drum, including daily take and possession limits and size limits; and
WHEREAS, department rules establish that the maximum legal size for the taking
of red drum is twenty-seven inches total length with the mouth closed; and
WHEREAS, department rules further establish that the possession of a red drum over
twenty-seven inches is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the current size limits were promulgated to reduce the total harvest of
red drum for stock recovery; and
WHEREAS, the current size limits are expected to result in a stock recovery greater
than the department's management goal; and
WHEREAS, there are several long-standing and well-established annual fishing
tournaments in the state that have traditionally included bull redfish categories; and
WHEREAS, based on historical data, the department would still be able to exceed
its management goals for red drum stock recovery if these tournaments were allowed to
continue offering bull red categories; and
WHEREAS, allowing these tournaments to maintain their traditional bull red
categories would help preserve important cultural and recreational activity, and the
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HCR NO. 5 ENROLLED
associated economic impact that these tournaments bring, without significantly impacting
red drum stock recovery efforts.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of Louisiana that LAC
76:VII.363(A)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
§363. Red Drum - Harvest Regulations
A. Recreational Regulations
* * *
(4) The secretary may, upon the request of an eligible applicant, issue a
special permit that allows the taking of red drum in excess of the regulatory size limit
for registered participants in a tournament or rodeo that meets the following
eligibility requirements:
(a) The event has been held regularly for five years or more.
(b) The event has historically included a bull red category.
(c) The event is no longer than four days long, once a year.
* * *
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
office of the state register.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the state register is hereby directed
to have the amendments to LAC 76:VII.363(A) printed and incorporated into the Louisiana
Administrative Code.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.