Bluegill in Louisiana
Where bluegill live in Louisiana, with the rules.
- no daily caplimit
- 2.24 lbrecord
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A Louisiana card for bluegill
For 2026 the Louisiana freshwater table names bluegill in the row “Sunfish (bream)”. Read it as no daily limit, open open year-round.
In 2022 Tim Trahan set the rod and reel record with 2.24 lb from Private Pond. Atchafalaya Basin, Toledo Bend Reservoir and Caddo Lake lead the 80 pages that list it. 1 water carry a different rule for it, Bussey Brake included. LDWF hatchery records show 2 stocking rows for it.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunfish (bream) | All state waters EXCEPT Bussey Brake | No daily limit | Open year-round |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 20 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
bluegill exceptions in the 2026 pamphlet
| Water | Where | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bussey Brake | Whole water | 50 daily, in the aggregate |
Rules as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), pages 18 to 21 (pamphlet PDF); second read on the LDWF freshwater page October 28, 2026.
The biggest Louisiana bluegill on file
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| private pond | Rod & Reel | 2.24 lb | Tim Trahan | Private Pond | May 2022 |
| freshwater | Rod & Reel | 1.83 lb | Timothy Delaney | Iatt Lake | May 2016 |
| private pond | Fly Fishing | 2.14 lb | Trevor Fry | The Lakes | October 2022 |
| freshwater | Fly Fishing | 1.64 lb | Tony Boatwright | Kincaid Lake | October. 1999 |
Next on the bluegill list
- 2.05 lb, Trevor FryThe Lakes, February 2023
- 1.81 lb, Jack FryThe Lakes, March 2024
- 1.72 lb, Dwaine PayneWhippoorwill Subd, August. 2016
- 1.59 lb, Trevor FryThe Lakes, May2022
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Recent bluegill stockings in Louisiana
| Water | Release as printed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crooked Creek Lake | Bluegill, 1,000 fingerlings, 2024 | LDWF news release July 23, 2024 |
| Ruston Sports Complex | Bluegill, 1,000 fingerlings, 2024 | LDWF news release July 23, 2024 |
LDWF hatchery stocking releases (spring 2024 and 2025 per-water tables, single stockings to 2026); LDWF publishes no per-row dates; read October 28, 2026.
Lakes, bayous and bays with bluegill
Oxbows and lakes with bluegill
- Atchafalaya Basin833,000 acres
- Toledo Bend Reservoir181,600 acres
- Caddo Lake26,800 acres
- Lake Bistineau17,200 acres
- Fausse Point, Dauterive and Catahoula Complex17,000 acres
- D'Arbonne Lake15,000 acres
- Lake Salvador15,000 acres
- Black Lake and Clear Lake13,800 acres
- Lake Des Allemands12,000 acres
- Red River Pool 510,800 acres
- Cross Lake8,576 acres
- Saline Lake8,400 acres
- Lake Cataouatche8,000 acres
- Bonnet Carre Spillway7,623 acres
- Iatt Lake7,100 acres
- Lake Claiborne6,400 acres
- Cocodrie Lake6,000 acres
- Henderson Lake5,000 acres
- Old River at Raccourci4,900 acres
- Vernon Lake4,200 acres
- Black Bayou Lake (Caddo Parish)3,960 acres
- Turkey Creek Lake3,845 acres
- Cheniere Lake3,115 acres
- Cypress Bayou Reservoir3,100 acres
Bayou pages listing bluegill
- Calcasieu RiverVernon Parish
- Tchefuncte RiverSt. Tammany Parish
- Bayou PlaquemineIberville Parish
- Amite RiverLivingston Parish
- Blind RiverSt. James Parish
- Calcasieu Ship ChannelCameron Parish
- Tickfaw RiverSt. Helena Parish
- Pearl RiverSt. Tammany Parish
- Bogue ChittoWashington Parish
- Sabine RiverBeauregard Parish
- Bayou SegnetteJefferson Parish
- Cane BayouSt. Tammany Parish
- Lacombe BayouSt. Tammany Parish
- Tangipahoa RiverTangipahoa Parish
- Bayou Segnette WaterwayJefferson Parish
- East Bogue ChittoSt. Tammany Parish
- West Bogue ChittoSt. Tammany Parish
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Kin of bluegill in the LDWF tables
- Redear Sunfishfreshwater
- Warmouthfreshwater
What the bayous and lakes near Bluegill look like
Photo: Jared, CC BY 2.0
Photo: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chrismiceli, Public domain
Quick Louisiana answers on bluegill
What does LDWF allow for bluegill each day?
Bag and size: No daily limit. Season: open year-round.
When was the Louisiana bluegill record set?
LOWA lists 2.24 lb, Private Pond, 2022, Tim Trahan (rod and reel).
What Louisiana water is a good bet for bluegill?
It is on 80 pages, Atchafalaya Basin, Toledo Bend Reservoir and Caddo Lake first.
Do Louisiana hatcheries raise bluegill?
LDWF lists 2 stocking rows, such as Crooked Creek Lake.
Where is the bluegill limit different in Louisiana?
Yes: 1 water, Bussey Brake among them.
Is bluegill open all year in Louisiana?
The row prints Open year-round.
Is a basic license enough for bluegill?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
Where do I send a Louisiana bluegill record?
Send it to the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association, which uses LDWF biologists to confirm species.
Pick Louisiana water for bluegill
Each water above has launches and limits on its own page.