Red Drum in Louisiana
LDWF limits, the LOWA record and Louisiana water for red drum.
- 4 a daylimit
- 61.0 lbrecord
Pick for red drumPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of the species, not a Louisiana water: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Louisiana red drum at a glance
LDWF lists red drum in its 2026 saltwater limits as “Red drum (redfish)”. It reads 4 daily per person – bag; none over 27″ max total length; 18″ min total length; 27″ max total length; season: open year-round in state waters.
The LOWA rank-one rod and reel fish weighed 61.0 lb, from a water not printed in 1992, caught by David Weber. Among the 5 waters linked to it are Lake Salvador, Lake Cataouatche and Pearl River. Hatchery crews logged 2 stocking rows.
For the red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Bag and length for Louisiana red drum
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum (redfish) | Louisiana state waters | 4 daily per person – bag; none over 27" max total length; 18" min total length; 27" max total length | Open year-round in state waters |
Possession: Two days' bag limit on land (not while fishing or on the water); three times the daily take limit south of U.S. Hwy 90 under the landing-receipt rule (pamphlet p.30 notes 1-2)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 28 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF saltwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
red drum in the LOWA record book
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| saltwater | Rod & Reel | 61.0 lb | David Weber | not printed | June 1992 |
| saltwater | Fly Fishing | 41.62 lb | Conway X. Bowman | Hopedale, LA | January. 2004 |
Other heavy red drum from the list
- 56.50 lb, O.L. Comish, June 1963
- 53.57 lb, Michael DonnerEmpire, Sept 2009
- 52.62 lb, Michael GauthreauxLittle Pass/Timb. Is., August 2005
- 52.13 lb, Ira J. Breaux, August 1977
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.
Hatchery red drum put into Louisiana water
| Water | Release as printed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Calcasieu Lake | Red Drum, more than 50,000 fingerlings, September 11, 2026 | LDWF news release Sept. 16, 2026 |
| Calcasieu Lake, the Rigolets and Grand Isle | Red Drum, More than 150,000 fingerlings, 2026 | LDWF news release Sept. 16, 2026 |
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.
Sportsman's Paradise water for red drum
Still water with red drum
- Lake Salvador15,000 acres
- Lake Cataouatche8,000 acres
Moving water with red drum
- Pearl RiverSt. Tammany Parish
- Bayou SegnetteJefferson Parish
- Bayou Segnette WaterwayJefferson Parish
LDWF popular-species text on management-plan lakes, LOWA record waters, LDWF stocking releases and Get Out & Fish! sites; biggest waters first.
Fish sharing a pamphlet line with red drum
- Freshwater Drumfreshwater
- Black Drumsaltwater
Pictures of fishing water by Red Drum
Photo: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Timothy Holdiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Where Louisiana red drum bite, in short answers
Which LDWF rule sets the red drum bag?
It is 4 daily per person – bag; none over 27" max total length; 18" min total length; 27" max total length, with the season open year-round in state waters.
What does the Louisiana red drum record weigh?
David Weber landed it on a water not printed in 1992: 61.0 lb (rod and reel).
Which Louisiana waters hold red drum?
5 water pages list it, led by Lake Salvador, Lake Cataouatche and Pearl River.
Do LDWF stocking tables mention red drum?
Yes, with 2 stocking rows; see Calcasieu Lake (West Cove Boat Ramp, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge).
Does any water have a red drum exception?
The pamphlet exceptions do not name it.
What dates apply to Louisiana red drum?
The pamphlet season is Open year-round in state waters.
What does a Louisiana license for red drum cost?
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents.
How do I claim a Louisiana red drum record?
LOWA keeps Louisiana fish records, and LDWF biologists verify the species.