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Monthly Trends in Louisiana’s Commercial Fisheries Landings
(2016, 2017 and 2018 Landings and Dockside Value)

Fisheries in Louisiana fluctuate regularly with the seasons. The following are monthly averages using 2016, 2017 and 2018 landings and nominal dockside value. These years are relatively typical without a major disruption and reflect the common trends and magnitude for these fisheries. The following data is from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Trip Ticket Program, which consists of monthly reports from the initial buyers (processors, dealers, etc.) who are required to record every transaction. All this data is provisional and subject to change. Some species are grouped to meet confidentiality requirements.

Download: Monthly Trends in Louisiana’s Commercial Fisheries Landings (printer-friendly PDF)

Crustaceans

Shrimp

White and brown shrimp dominate the shrimp species caught in Louisiana. Brown shrimp season is centered around the spring shrimp opening. While some white shrimp are caught year-round, the majority are landed in the fall.

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Blue Crab

Blue crab is a year-round fishery in Louisiana. However, May through August is peak blue crab season.

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Crawfish

Wild crawfish (excluding pond harvest) is very seasonal, linked to water levels in the main fishery area of the Atchafalaya Basin. Fishermen need water levels to be high enough with spring floods to get into the back areas of the waterways, but not too high. Catch really starts increasing around Easter and trickles off by July.

Bivalves

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Oysters

The majority of oyster harvest occurs from oyster reefs on leased bottoms. While there are some landings year-round, the peak oyster months for landings begin in March. Landings also include harvest from public reefs and off-bottom oyster culture.

Freshwater Finfish

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Catfish

Catfish is one of the main freshwater finfish species in Louisiana that is caught year-round. However, catch declines somewhat in the hottest and coldest months.

Marine Finfish

Marine Fish

Many of the finfish in Louisiana have a set fishing season. For some, fishermen will target different species at different times of the year. Black drum landings are relatively consistent across the year, but January is usually peak harvest and value. Grouper harvest (individual species harvest grouped) is lower in the early months, but picks up and is relatively steady from March through August. Snapper harvest (individual species harvest grouped) is also relatively stable with the peak in March. Tuna harvest (individual species grouped) is highest is early summer and again at the end of the year.