Bowfishing Laws in Louisiana: What You Need to Know Before You Shoot

Louisiana has long earned its nickname as the Sportsman’s Paradise, and bowfishing is a big part of why. From the murky bayous of the Atchafalaya Basin to the shallow coastal flats near Grand Isle, the state gives bowfishers some of the most productive water in the country. But before you string up your arrow and hit the water, you need to understand exactly what the law allows.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) regulates bowfishing through its recreational fishing framework, and the rules cover everything from which species you can shoot to what permits you need for saltwater trips. This guide breaks down the current regulations so you can fish confidently and legally.

Important Note: Regulations can change. Always verify the most current rules directly with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before heading out. The 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (updated April 28, 2026) serve as the primary source for this article.

Is Bowfishing Legal in Louisiana?

Yes, bowfishing is legal in Louisiana. Louisiana allows you to bowfish for certain species of freshwater and saltwater non-game fish with a valid basic fishing license. The activity is well-established in the state, and the LDWF has built a regulatory framework that accommodates both freshwater and saltwater bowfishing.

The key distinction you need to understand is the difference between game fish and non-game fish. Game fish are protected from bowfishing in freshwater, while saltwater regulations allow for one notable exception — red drum. An alternative method is allowed for taking red drum, but harvest of any other saltwater game fish species by this method is prohibited.

Louisiana’s bowfishing scene is especially active at night, when fish move into shallow water and become easier to spot with the help of bright lights. LDWF developed the Bowfishing Permit to help define the universe of anglers participating in bowfishing activity for saltwater species, an activity that occurs mainly at night and outside of normal creel activity. If you’re new to the sport, you can also find bowfishing opportunities in states like Tennessee and Missouri for comparison.

What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Louisiana

Louisiana divides its regulated species into game fish — which are generally off-limits to bowfishing in freshwater — and non-game or rough fish, which are the primary targets. Knowing which category a species falls into is essential before you take a shot.

Freshwater game fish under Louisiana law include largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus), shadow bass (Ambloplites ariommus), black and white crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus, P. annularis), white bass (Morone chrysops), yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), hybrid striped bass, and any species of bream (Lepomis sp.). None of these may be taken by bow in freshwater.

Standard spearing equipment is the only legal method of take for non-game species that can be used by a skin diver submerged in water. The taking of gamefish with standard spearing equipment is prohibited. The same protection applies to bow and arrow — you cannot target freshwater game fish with a bow under any circumstances.

On the legal side, the most popular freshwater targets include:

• Alligator gar and other gar species
• Common carp, bighead carp, grass carp, silver carp, and black carp
• Buffalo fish
• Catfish (flathead, blue, and channel)
• Bowfin (choupique)
• Mullet

Exotic species of Asian carp (silver, bighead, black and grass) taken from state waters must not be returned to the water alive and may not be possessed alive. If you shoot one of these invasive carp, you are legally required to keep it out of the water — do not release it back into the waterway.

Garfish may be taken by means of spears and bows and arrows. Gar are among the most sought-after bowfishing targets in Louisiana, and alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) in particular draw bowfishers from across the country to the state’s rivers and bayous.

For saltwater species, red drum is the primary game fish you can legally target by bow. After dark, bowfishers commonly pursue redfish, black drum, sheepshead, common carp, catfish, flounder, gator gar, and other fish. Always confirm current bag and size limits before targeting any saltwater species, as these can change season to season.

Pro Tip: Asian carp populations in Louisiana’s rivers are a serious ecological concern. Targeting them by bow is not only legal — it actively helps the ecosystem. Many bowfishers make carp removal a mission alongside their regular outings.

Bowfishing License Requirements in Louisiana

You need a valid fishing license to bowfish in Louisiana, and the specific license you need depends on where you’re fishing and what species you’re targeting. Here’s how the requirements break down.

Bowfishing Situation	License / Permit Required	Cost
Freshwater bowfishing (resident, 18+)	Basic Recreational Fishing License	Paid
Saltwater bowfishing (private angler, 18+)	Basic + Saltwater License + Bowfishing Permit	Paid + Free
Saltwater bowfishing (charter captain)	Charter/Guide License + Charter Bowfishing Permit	Paid + Free
Saltwater bowfishing (charter client, paying)	No Bowfishing Permit required	N/A
Anglers under 18	No Bowfishing Permit required	N/A

All anglers 18 years of age and older fishing in freshwater must possess a valid Basic Recreational Fishing License, a Hook and Line License, or one of the other licenses that covers these activities (LA Sportsman Paradise, Senior Hunt/Fish, Disabled Hunt/Fish, Disabled Veterans Hunt/Fish).

For saltwater bowfishing, an additional free permit is required. A no-fee Recreational Saltwater Bowfishing Permit is required for all anglers age 18 and older who take or attempt to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear, or who engage in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line.

A recreational saltwater bowfishing permit for the recreational fishery’s private and charter sectors has been required beginning January 1, 2024. The permit is free of charge and is valid for one year from the date issued. You must renew it annually.

You can obtain, view, or renew a Bowfishing Permit online only. The Bowfishing Permit is not available through LDWF’s license sales webpage or at any retail vendor. To register, you will need to have your LDWF Saltwater, Lifetime Fishing, Lifetime Hunting/Fishing, or Charter/Guide license number.

Anglers under the age of 18 years and anglers on a charter boat as clients are not required to have a Bowfishing Permit. If you’re paying to go on a guided charter trip, the captain’s Charter Bowfishing Permit covers you. You must have a printed or electronic copy of your Bowfishing Permit in your possession while fishing.

The LDWF recreational fishing licenses page lists all available license types, including the Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License, which bundles most fishing and hunting privileges into one package. Compare how Louisiana’s requirements stack up against neighboring states like Mississippi or North Carolina if you fish across state lines.

Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Louisiana

Louisiana’s fishing regulations define bow and arrow as a legal method of take for recreational fishing, and the rules around equipment are relatively straightforward. The bow itself — whether a compound bow, recurve, or longbow — is legal as long as it is fitted with a line and reel system to retrieve arrows and fish.

The regulations list bow and arrow as one of the gear types that requires a valid basic recreational fishing license to use. Other legal gear that can be used alongside bowfishing includes standard spearing equipment for skin divers submerged in water. A barbless spear or multi-pronged barbed gig may be used in saltwater for taking flounder only. This is a separate method, not a bowfishing rule, but it’s worth knowing if you plan to target flounder in saltwater areas.

There are a few prohibited methods you should be aware of to avoid crossing legal lines:

• You may not use any form of aerial surveillance — including drones — to assist in harvesting finfish.
• Explosives, poisons, and electrical devices are prohibited for taking fish.
• It is unlawful to possess any of the prohibited instruments, weapons, substances or devices with the intent to take fish.

Crossbows are not explicitly listed as a separate legal gear category in Louisiana’s recreational fishing regulations the way they are in some other states, so if you plan to use a crossbow, contact the LDWF directly for clarification before heading out.

Lights are widely used for night bowfishing in Louisiana and are not prohibited. Most bowfishing boats are rigged with LED or halogen lights mounted over the bow to illuminate the water. This is standard practice on Louisiana’s coastal flats and inland bayous alike. See how equipment rules compare in states like Ohio or Virginia.

Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Louisiana

Louisiana offers an enormous range of bowfishing locations — from the Red River and Toledo Bend Reservoir in the north to the coastal marshes of Plaquemines Parish in the south. However, access to specific areas comes with conditions depending on whether the water is public, private, or located within a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

You can legally bowfish in most public freshwater bodies, including rivers, lakes, bayous, reservoirs, and ponds. Saltwater and coastal areas south of the designated saltwater line are also open, provided you carry the required saltwater license and Bowfishing Permit. Popular bowfishing destinations include Port Sulphur, Saint Bernard, and Grand Isle, where shallow coastal flats hold concentrations of redfish, sheepshead, and flounder.

WMAs require additional consideration. Bows and broadhead arrows are not allowed on WMAs except during deer archery season, turkey season, or as permitted for bowfishing. This means bowfishing with a bow is allowed on WMAs, but you should confirm whether a specific WMA has any additional gear or access restrictions before visiting. A WMA Access Annual or 5-Day Permit is required for all users of LDWF-administered lands, including wildlife management areas, refuges, and wetlands conservation areas. Persons 17 and under are not required to purchase WMA permits.

Private property is another matter. You must have landowner permission to bowfish on private land or in private water bodies. Trespassing to bowfish — even if the species you’re targeting is legal — is a separate violation that carries its own penalties.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether a specific body of water falls above or below the saltwater line, the safest approach is to purchase a saltwater license and Bowfishing Permit. Louisiana has many areas where you can catch fresh and saltwater species side by side. Instead of trying to determine exactly where the saltwater line is, the best practice is to purchase the additional saltwater license if you’re fishing anywhere in south Louisiana and plan to catch any saltwater species.

Night Bowfishing Rules in Louisiana

Night bowfishing is not only legal in Louisiana — it’s the preferred method for most experienced bowfishers in the state. Redfish, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, and gar all move into shallow water after dark, making them far more accessible by bow than during daylight hours.

There are no specific statewide prohibitions on night bowfishing in Louisiana’s public waters. The same license and permit requirements that apply during the day apply at night. If you’re bowfishing south of the saltwater line at night, you still need your Recreational Saltwater Bowfishing Permit in possession — printed or on your phone.

The use of lights on your vessel for night bowfishing is standard practice and is not restricted by LDWF regulations. Most bowfishing boats in Louisiana run powerful lights mounted over the water to illuminate shallow flats and allow for accurate shots. Safety lighting required for nighttime vessel operation under U.S. Coast Guard rules still applies, so make sure your boat is properly lit for navigation in addition to any bowfishing lights you run.

One practical note: you may not use any aircraft including fixed-wing, dirigibles, balloons, helicopters, drones, or any other form of aerial surveillance to assist in harvesting finfish. This prohibition applies day and night, so using a drone to spot fish before a night bowfishing run is not allowed.

Check out how night bowfishing rules are handled in neighboring states like Minnesota or Pennsylvania if you travel to bowfish.

Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Louisiana

Saltwater bowfishing in Louisiana comes with a specific layer of regulation that freshwater bowfishing does not. The LDWF’s saltwater framework is designed to track harvest of recreationally important coastal species, and the Bowfishing Permit is the centerpiece of that system.

A Bowfishing Permit is a free permit that is required in addition to all other applicable licenses and/or permits to anyone taking or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear or engaging in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line. This applies whether you’re targeting fish or simply bowfishing in that zone — location matters, not just the species you’re after.

For charter operations, the rules are structured differently. Charter captains, including those fishing from vessels with a valid federal charter/headboat permit, are required to have a valid Charter Bowfishing Permit to take clients on bowfishing trips. A Charter Bowfishing Permit covers all paying anglers on a charter trip. If you’re a paying client on a guided trip, you do not need your own Bowfishing Permit.

The most important species-level rule in saltwater is the red drum exception. Red drum is classified as a saltwater game fish, and game fish are generally off-limits to bowfishing. However, LDWF regulations carve out a specific allowance for red drum to be taken by bow. Redfish are restricted to five per person and must be at least 16 inches long. Confirm the current bag and size limits with LDWF before targeting red drum, as these figures are subject to change.

Saltwater game fish such as sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, and red drum (outside of the specific allowance) are protected from bowfishing. The federally listed threatened and endangered, or prohibited species are off limits for fishing or recreational take. Civil and criminal penalties may apply for taking the following aquatic species. If any of these protected species are incidentally caught, they must be released immediately unharmed.

For anglers who bowfish both freshwater and saltwater, comparing regulations across the region can help you stay compliant wherever you fish. Louisiana’s saltwater bowfishing framework is more detailed than many neighboring states — see how Arizona handles its own bowfishing rules for a different regional perspective. You may also find our guides on other Louisiana animal and wildlife laws helpful, including roadkill laws in Louisiana and leash laws in Louisiana.

Key Insight: The Recreational Saltwater Bowfishing Permit is free and available only online through the LDWF system. You cannot pick it up at a sporting goods store or bait shop. Register before your trip and carry a printed or electronic copy on the water at all times.

Louisiana’s bowfishing regulations strike a balance between protecting game fish populations and giving bowfishers broad access to non-game and invasive species. As long as you carry the right licenses, know your target species, and stay aware of the saltwater line, you can bowfish legally throughout the state’s vast network of rivers, bayous, and coastal marshes. When in doubt, contact the LDWF Enforcement Office directly — they’re the authoritative source on any regulation that isn’t clear in the published guide.