Crabbing...need a fishing license or no?
 

I know this is discussed several times a year, but do you need a fishing license to crab, say at Marsh Island? If so, how long do you need to reside here in the state before you're considered a resident?

If you have Louisiana drivers license you are resident

Here is the CORRECT answer from the LDWF web site.

Bona Fide Resident:
Bona Fide Resident:
1. Any person who has resided in this state continuously during the 6 months immediately prior to the date on which he applies for any license and who has manifested his intent to remain in this state by establishing Louisiana as his legal domicile, as demonstrated by compliance with all of the following, as applicable:

• If registered to vote, he is registered to vote in Louisiana
• If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, he is in possession of a valid Louisiana drivers license, or, if over the age of fifteen years and not licensed to drive, he is in possession of a special identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
• If owning a motor vehicle located within Louisiana, he is in possession of a valid Louisiana registration for that vehicle
• If earning an income, he has filed a Louisiana state income tax return and has complied with state income tax laws and regulations.

Recreational Crabbing

Required Licenses

• No license is required for any person using crab nets or crab lines for the purpose of taking crabs.
• Persons harvesting crabs on LDWF WMAs or refuges must possess a basic recreational fishing license or a Wild Louisiana Stamp.
• A Recreational Crab Trap Gear License is required to use crab traps. There is a limit of 10 traps per licensed fisherman. Use of crab traps is prohibited on LDWF WMAs and refuges

to go along with the above accurate details, if you have a Louisiana license, no one cares or will check how long you have been here, including game warden (unless you tell him)

so even if you been here only a week and have a license, even though by the "letter of the law" you don't qualify, your ok unless you "volunteer" extra info you shouldn't.

trust me, unless you piss them off and give them some reason to try to bust your chops, they aren't worried about the number of days you have been a resident, only that you have a license saying that you are a resident

lifetime lic
 

Does the lifetime lic cover the crab trap lic.

No you would need a gear license as well if you running more than 10 traps

RECREATIONAL GEAR LICENSES
Recreational anglers ages 16 and over using any of the recreational gear listed below must, in addition to their basic fishing license, purchase the applicable gear license. If fishing in saltwater areas of the state, a saltwater fishing license is also required. Lifetime fishing license holders must also purchase a gear license to use recreational gear.
LICENSERESIDENTNON-RESIDENTCrab Traps (limit 10 traps)
(fished singly or on trot line)Slat Traps (limit 5 traps)Trawls (up to 16 feet)**Trawls (over 16 feet, up to 25 feet)Oyster Tong (per tong)Crawfish Traps (limit 35 traps)Pipes/Drums (limit 5)Cans/Buckets (limit 5)*Wire Nets (limit 5)*Hoop Nets (limit 5)

Dang... I guess I've been breaking the law when I go down to Grand Isle to my company's camp. They have a crab trap there and I usually set it out at the beach. Had no idea I needed a gear license to do that.

Thanks for the info.

I bet a few thousand people who are always using crawfish traps don't know they are fishing illegal too

just load up a bunch of kids and go .......any warden worth his salt wont mess wit you ............

It was so nice of you to GOOGLE all that info for him!

In Pecan Island I think they sell just a recreational crabbing license for la citizens for $2.00. Just to add to the confusion. If you buy everything, NP.