Bowfin in Louisiana
LDWF limits, the LOWA record and Louisiana water for bowfin.
- no daily caplimit
- 20.50 lbrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Louisiana water: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain
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Louisiana bowfin at a glance
LDWF lists bowfin in its 2026 freshwater limits as “Bowfin (choupique)”. It reads no daily limit; 16″ mll; season: open year-round.
The LOWA rank-one rod and reel fish weighed 20.50 lb, from Toledo Bend in 1976, caught by Brian Fant. Among the 2 waters linked to it are Toledo Bend Reservoir and Lake Verret, Grassy Lake and Lake Palourde.
Bag and length for Louisiana bowfin
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin (choupique) | All state waters | No daily limit; 16" MLL | 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.
bowfin in the LOWA record book
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | Rod & Reel | 20.50 lb | Brian Fant | Toledo Bend | April 1976 |
| freshwater | Fly Fishing | 6.66 lb | Dustin Semar | Cameron Prairie WMA | Sept 2018 |
Other heavy bowfin from the list
- 18.94 lb, Hollis E. Moore, April 1976
- 17.50 lb, Julius E. Aaron, Feb. 1973
- 17.0 lb, K.R. McCullough, May 1976
- 16.50 lb, Ike Dunlap, May 1974
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.
Sportsman's Paradise water for bowfin
Still water with bowfin
- Toledo Bend Reservoir181,600 acres
- Lake Verret, Grassy Lake and Lake PalourdeAssumption Parish
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Pictures of fishing water by Bowfin
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Timothy Holdiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where Louisiana bowfin bite, in short answers
Which LDWF rule sets the bowfin bag?
It is No daily limit; 16" MLL, with the season open year-round.
What does the Louisiana bowfin record weigh?
Brian Fant landed it on Toledo Bend in 1976: 20.50 lb (rod and reel).
Which Louisiana waters hold bowfin?
2 water pages list it, led by Toledo Bend Reservoir and Lake Verret, Grassy Lake and Lake Palourde.
Do LDWF stocking tables mention bowfin?
The LDWF release tables read here leave it out.
Does any water have a bowfin exception?
The pamphlet exceptions do not name it.
What dates apply to Louisiana bowfin?
The pamphlet season is Open year-round.
What does a Louisiana license for bowfin cost?
Louisiana anglers 18 and older carry a Basic Fishing License: $17 a year for residents and $68 for nonresidents.
How do I claim a Louisiana bowfin record?
LOWA keeps Louisiana fish records, and LDWF biologists verify the species.