The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission heard the 2017-18 sport fish and bait fish regulations proposals and approved the commercial fishing regulations at its September meeting held at Pickwick Landing State Park.
Sport fish and bait fish regulations are regularly set for the coming year by the TFWC at its October meeting. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Fisheries Division makes its annual recommendations at the September meeting and were delivered by the division’s chief, Frank Fiss.
The TWRA is proposing to change harvest regulations for striped bass and hybrid striped bass in Douglas Reservoir to match those currently in place for white bass. The TWRA is not managing for striped bass or hybrid striped bass in this reservoir. The proposal will help maintain one of the most robust white bass populations in East Tennessee by reducing the potential for hybridization.
On Dale Hollow Reservoir, the TWRA is proposing to change the current fishing rod limits from three per boat and six from bank angler to four rods in use per person for all anglers on the lake.
The TWRA is pursuing a change to the reciprocal agreement with the state of North Carolina and Calderwood Reservoir. The agreement is currently restricted to boat anglers only and the proposed change would bank anglers to be included under the agreement.
The agency presented information on the crappie fishery at Kentucky Lake. The TFWC requested that the TWRA consider lowering the creel limit from 30 to 20 fish per day.
The agency presented changes to the live bait proclamation that would keep existing creel limits for Class A and Class B baitfish, and establish a possession limit of twice the daily creel limit for these classes. The proposal would also establish a 50 fish per day limit for Class C bait fish, all species combined, with a possession limit of 100 fish. The new proclamation would regulate the possession of both live and dead baitfish. Descriptions of Class A, B and C fish are available in the current fishing guide.
“The bait proclamation is designed to help prevent the movement of certain bait fish into bodies of water where they do not currently exist,” said Mr. Fiss.
The commercial fishing regulations were proposed at the August TFWC meeting. Changes include commercial fishermen now being able to use a variety of minnow traps to harvest baitfish. Other changes improve the accuracy of descriptions of mussel refuge boundaries.
Wildlife and Forestry Division Chief Mark Gudlin gave a status report on the 2016 dove season which opened Sept. 1. Preliminary numbers indicated that the harvest totals through Labor Day were in line with previous years.
The TFWC passed several proclamations in regard to the Buffalo Ridge Refuge. Buffalo Ridge Refuge, consisting of 1,813 acres in Humphreys County just south of I-40 and is adjacent to the Buffalo River, was proclaimed at the August commission meeting. Several special hunts were set at the refuge, including a youth deer hunt in late October, a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman muzzleloader hunt in November and a wounded soldiers hunt in December.
The TFWC approved a new license starting in the 2017-18 license year. A native Tennessean license would allow non-residents who were born in Tennessee to purchase annual hunting and fishing licenses at the same cost as a resident. The rule is still subject to review and approval by the Tennessee General Assembly’s Government Operations Committee. The new license would require proof of birth.
“We hope native Tennesseans who have left our great state will find it easier to come home and enjoy the wonderful fishing and hunting opportunities Tennessee offers,” said Chris Richardson, special assistant to the TWRA director.
Several budget expansions, all funded by federal dollars, were approved. These included $750,000 to expand Bear Hollow Wildlife Management Area in Franklin County, $171,600 to conduct Asian carp research, and $468,000 from the Clean Vessel Act.