LDWF’s fish hatcheries stocked 4.2 million freshwater sportfish statewide this spring
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) hatcheries produced and stocked approximately 4.2 million freshwater sportfish into 50 waterbodies statewide during the spring 2024 stocking season. The stocked fish primarily consisted of Florida Bass (4.2 million) and Hybrid Striped Bass (67,100).
LDWF owns and operates Booker Fowler, Beechwood, Huey P. Long, and Monroe Fish Hatcheries. Hatcheries also partner with the USFWS’ Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery and the City of Shreveport’s Cross Lake Fish Hatchery to meet statewide fish production needs. Fish are requested annually by LDWF’s nine fisheries management districts primarily to enhance or improve sportfishing opportunities.
“We are proud to be able to stock such a large quantity of freshwater sportfish throughout the state for the benefit of our fisheries habitat and recreational anglers,” said LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan. “Our goal for fish stockings is to have a healthy population of sportfish statewide and to provide ample opportunity for recreational anglers to try their hand at catching large trophy bass in our Sportsman’s Paradise.”
While Louisiana hatcheries support various fish stocking needs throughout the state, most of today’s hatchery resources are directed to the production of Florida Bass. The Florida Bass can grow larger than Louisiana’s native Largemouth Bass species. The two species readily hybridize, and individuals reaching or exceeding 10 pounds in Louisiana usually have some degree of Florida Bass genetic influence due to LDWF’s stocking efforts. Stocking this species into existing native populations of Largemouth Bass, where successful, increases the potential for anglers to catch quality and/or trophy bass. Below are a few examples of the Florida Bass genetic influence in some of our most notable bass lakes.
Stocking of Florida Bass focuses hatchery resources on areas with the best likelihood for success. Stocking is no longer done in areas where introgression of the Florida gene into the native bass population has been unsuccessful or in habitats where bass do not generally live to an age where they can reach trophy size.
Below are the results of stocking activities completed by LDWF Hatcheries from January to June of this calendar year.