The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) warns of potential fish kills along the coast as freezing temperatures and an arctic blast sweep across the state. Fisheries biologist Jason Adriance says water temperatures haven’t dropped enough yet.
“We still have water temperatures in the low-50 to mid-60. So, this is just a reminder to folks to be aware that this can happen.”
One coastal species most at risk is the Spotted Seatrout which struggles when water temperatures drop below 40°F for over a day, while Red Drum begins to experience issues in the mid-30s. Adriance notes that slower temperature drops give fish a better chance to acclimate and survive
“If it’s a really quick cold shot and it catches those fish off guard then we could have possibly have more severe impacts.”
Adriance urges the public to report large fish kills by providing location details, fish condition, and contact information.
“Give us a call or let us know if they see any dead or dying fish.”
Creel, size limits, and legal fishing methods remain in effect
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