Louisiana’s spring inshore shrimp season to open May 23

Biologists recommended opening date Thursday after more than 500 trawl samples, LDWF says

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission on Thursday announced the 2016 spring inshore shrimp season will begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 23 for all state inshore waters.

Also, the portion of state outside waters from the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel to the western shore of Freshwater Bayou will open at 6 a.m. on May 23.

Biologists with the LDWF have monitored more than 500 trawl samples along the state’s nearshore waters in the last five weeks to develop management recommendations for the season’s opening date, according to a press release.

That is when department projections indicated a minimum of 50 percent of the inshore brown shrimp population will reach sizes of 100 count per pound and larger, the release states.

For a detailed map of the opening, click here.