Louisiana to Change Bass Creel Limit on Atchafalaya Basin June 20

tchafalaya Basin Black Bass Creel Limit Set to Change – Beginning Saturday, June 20, black bass regulations on the Atchafalaya River Basin will be consistent with statewide regulations – no length limit with a 10 fish daily creel.

Impacted waterbodies include the Atchafalaya River Basin, Lake Verret, Lake Palourde Complex and Lake Fausse Point/Lake Dauterive Complex. In June 2013, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the removal of the 14-inch minimum length, and as a temporary transition measure, reduced the daily creel limit from 10 to seven bass for a two-year period.

This restriction has now expired. The decision to change the regulation two years ago was made after review of an extensive three-year study where findings showed the Atchafalaya Basin largemouth bass population did not exhibit criteria for which a 14-inch limit would produce larger bass.

The study indicated that the Basin bass population is more heavily influenced by environmental factors, including water fluctuation and the effects of tropical storms rather than angler harvest.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.