Louisiana Fishing License 2026: Saltwater Line, Senior Age 60, and Prices
Louisiana 2026 fishing license guide: Basic vs Saltwater rules, the saltwater line, senior age-60 fees, crab trap rules, and official LDWF price rows.
Louisiana is a location-first license state. Anglers age 18 and older need a Basic Fishing License to fish anywhere in the state, and it covers all legal freshwater gear. South of the saltwater line, anyone fishing for or possessing saltwater fish must add the Saltwater License on top of Basic; if you stay south of the line but only target freshwater species, Basic alone is enough.
Age changes the purchase. Residents and nonresidents age 17 and under skip the ordinary paid Basic and Saltwater rows entirely, while qualifying Louisiana residents born before June 1, 1962 use the Senior Hunting/Fishing License instead of Basic and Saltwater. Visitors should not apply that senior row to themselves.
Some Louisiana trips are not solved by Basic plus Saltwater alone. The narrow no-reel Hook and Line License, charter-passenger products, recreational crab traps, the Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise all-in-one license, and mobile proof in LA Wallet each follow separate rules worth checking before the trip.
Louisiana saltwater line, seniors, and crab rules
| Topic | What to check |
|---|---|
| Saltwater line | Runs from the Texas state line along the Intracoastal Waterway and connecting channels to the Mississippi state line; south of it (including Lakes Maurepas, Pontchartrain, and St. Catherine) is legally saltwater. Fishing for or possessing saltwater fish there requires Basic plus Saltwater. |
| Under 18 | Both residents and nonresidents age 17 and under are exempt from the paid Basic and Saltwater license rows. |
| Resident senior | Residents born before June 1, 1940 get the Senior Hunting/Fishing License free; those born between June 1, 1940 and May 31, 1962 pay $5. This license replaces Basic, Saltwater, and several hunting licenses. Nonresidents cannot use this row. |
| Recreational crab traps | Covered by the Basic Fishing License in freshwater areas or the Saltwater License in saltwater areas (up to 10 traps per license); the Hook and Line License covers only crab nets and crab lines, not traps. |
| Charter passenger trips | Charter Passenger licenses apply only when a licensed charter guide is aboard for the entire trip; the guide's charter license does not cover unaccompanied passenger fishing. |
| LA Wallet | Louisiana residents with a Louisiana driver's license or state ID can link their LDWF licenses inside the LA Wallet app for mobile proof instead of carrying a printed PDF. |
2026 Louisiana Price Rows
Use the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries recreational license page and the LDWF fee list for the current official record.
| Product | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Fishing License | $17 | $68 | Base row for all anglers age 18+; includes all legal freshwater gear. Nonresident native 10-day $17, nonresident 5-day $30. |
| Saltwater License | $15 | $60 | Requires Basic first; add south of the saltwater line when targeting/possessing saltwater fish. Includes up to 10 recreational crab traps and trawls to 25 feet. Nonresident native 10-day $15, nonresident 5-day $30. |
| Hook and Line License | $5 | Narrow no-reel, no-artificial-bait cane-pole and roadside-crabbing product (crab nets/lines only, no traps); no other license required for this use. Nonresident native 10-day $5. | |
| Senior Hunting/Fishing License | Free (born before 6/1/1940) or $5 (born 6/1/1940–5/31/1962) | For qualifying Louisiana residents only; replaces Basic and Saltwater. | |
| Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise License | $100 | $400 | All-in-one annual bundle: Basic + Saltwater Fishing plus Basic, Deer, Waterfowl, and Turkey Hunting and WMA Access. Nonresident native 10-day $100, nonresident 5-day $120. |
| Charter Passenger Freshwater, 3-day | $10 | $10 | Valid only with a licensed charter guide aboard for freshwater trips. |
| Charter Passenger Saltwater, 3-day | $20 | $20 | Valid only with a licensed charter guide aboard for saltwater trips. |
| Recreational Offshore Landing Permit | Free | Free | Required to possess tuna, billfish, swordfish, amberjack, grouper, snapper, hind, cobia, wahoo, or dolphinfish caught on a private (non-charter) trip. |
*The saltwater line and the target species drive the Louisiana stack. For crab traps, charter trips, or LA Wallet proof, verify the live LDWF page before fishing. A law change (SLS 25RS-212) shifts the senior threshold toward age 65 with a $20 fee starting June 1, 2027, so residents nearing 60 should recheck the fee table each season. *
FAQs
When does Louisiana require both Basic and Saltwater?
South of the saltwater line, anglers fishing for or possessing saltwater fish generally need both the Basic Fishing License and the Saltwater License; Basic alone covers freshwater species even south of the line.
Who can use the Louisiana senior fishing license?
The Senior Hunting/Fishing License is for qualifying Louisiana residents: free if born before June 1, 1940, and $5 if born between June 1, 1940 and May 31, 1962. A nonresident senior should use the nonresident Basic and Saltwater rows instead.
Do Louisiana recreational crab traps follow the same answer as a rod-and-reel trip?
Not exactly. Recreational crab traps are covered by the Basic Fishing License in freshwater areas or the Saltwater License in saltwater areas (up to 10 traps), while the cheaper Hook and Line License only covers crab nets and crab lines, not traps, so verify the crab-specific LDWF rule before setting traps.
Guides
Louisiana Out-of-State Fishing License Cost 2026
Compare Louisiana nonresident Basic, saltwater, charter, senior, and crabbing license rules before you fish.
Updated August 19, 2026
Louisiana Senior Fishing License at 60: 2026 Age & Saltwater
Louisiana senior fishing license 2026 rules: resident age 60 path, $5 senior hunting/fishing license, saltwater line, charter, crab, and nonresidents.
Updated August 18, 2026
Louisiana Fishing License 2026: Saltwater Line Rules
Louisiana anglers age 18+ need Basic Fishing, plus Saltwater south of the line for saltwater fish. See Hook and Line, senior, charter and LA…
Updated August 18, 2026