Coming home to Louisiana!

[libralabsoldier]

After nine years of exile (8 in Oklahoma, one in Iraq) I am finally coming back home to Louisiana for good. I plan on spending a good part of this summer crabbing and fishing. I have the standard recreational crabber stuff (some double ring drop nets, a couple of good long handled dip nets and plenty of cotton string) but I am considering making some homemade box traps.

I have tried looking over the Louisiana regulations, and have a few questions I cannot seem to get answered.

First: In Oklahoma, since I am 80% service connected disabled, I have free hunting and fishing licenses. Does Louisiana do the same?

Second: What are the laws that govern recreational crabbers selling part of their catch, and are there any special permits I need?

Third: How is the crabbing going in Maurepas, Ponchartrain, etc? I am moving back to Denham Springs, and want an easy short trip to make.

I cannot tell you guys how happy I am to finally be coming home. Oklahoma sucks in so many different ways it would take a short novel to list them all.

[rdbeard]

 It is against the law for recs to sell any part of their catch here in Maryland but maybe some one on the board could give advice on regs in La.

[lreops]

Pop off a PM to Capt Ron  http://www.bluecrab.info/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=18605  He'll be able to help you with any questions you have about LA rules and regulations.

Ron

[capt. ron]

Welcome home soldier boy.  OK really sucks.  To hot in Summer and to cold in winter.

To answer your questions.
number 1.  Don't know.  Call LWF or go on line at Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries License or call the 225 number posted.
number 2.  No way.  You have to be commercial to sell.
number 3.  hit and miss and mostly miss.  Things have been hard the past few years.  That's why I sold my boat.  Now I'm crawfishing

Ronnie

[libralabsoldier]

Evidently there is a permit I can get that allows me to sell directly to consumers, but not restaurants or seafood shops. I will research more. As far as crawfishing...I have not done that in a long time either, and will probably be going back to doing some of that as well. I miss being out on the water. I am also a big fan of all those wild foods that most people do not realize you can eat, like oyster drill snails.

[bigjimmie]

Your referring to the fresh products license , you still need a commercial license , saltwater permit and a gear license to sell your catch , no way of getting around that.

[libralabsoldier]

Well, 75 bucks seems to be a small price to pay. I need to get all of my VA stuff transferred anyway, since my regular hunting and fishing licenses are free due to my disability rating. Like I said, I am just really looking forward to getting back in the woods, back on the water, and back outside. Oklahoma is punishingly hot in the summer, blisteringly cold in the winter, and frankly their outdoors sports leave much to be desired. There are a million and one small hidden fees and they love to write tickets over the slightest thing.

I am going to be a lot more active on here, and plan on sharing a lot of recipes I come up with for wild foods. Over the years I have lived on four continents, and have picked up a lot of interesting culinary styles. I was most at home in Korea. I swear, Koreans are like Louisiana folks: If you can put hot sauce, garlic, etc on it, it is edible.

[Snowdon]

Well I have no answers to your questions but I do have thanks for serving this country and welcome home.

[Chef Lar]

Well, 75 bucks seems to be a small price to pay. I need to get all of my VA stuff transferred anyway, since my regular hunting and fishing licenses are free due to my disability rating. Like I said, I am just really looking forward to getting back in the woods, back on the water, and back outside. Oklahoma is punishingly hot in the summer, blisteringly cold in the winter, and frankly their outdoors sports leave much to be desired. There are a million and one small hidden fees and they love to write tickets over the slightest thing.

I am going to be a lot more active on here, and plan on sharing a lot of recipes I come up with for wild foods. Over the years I have lived on four continents, and have picked up a lot of interesting culinary styles. I was most at home in Korea. I swear, Koreans are like Louisiana folks: If you can put hot sauce, garlic, etc on it, it is edible.

Never quite thought of it that way, but the correlation between the two can't be denied. Can't wait to see some of your recipes.

[Roscoe1929]

Thanks for your service.

If you ever want to meet up and set some traps, let me know. I go out there and run a few traps, recreational. I just do it for the fun of being outdoors. I give them to whoever will boil them and let me eat with um.

I am assuming you have your own boat. If you do, send me a pm with a number, maybe we can meet up out there.  if you don't, let me know, you can jump in my boat. I look for some company out there when my friends and family do not want to go.

[libralabsoldier]

I currently do not have a boat. I have had to get rid of most of my earthly possessions in order to return to Louisiana.

[capt. ron]

crawfish season is almost over.  If you want to go out with me one day give me a shout.  You're welcome to come.

Ronnie