The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will establish the 2018-19 sport fish and commercial fishing regulations during its September meeting. The meeting will be held in Gatlinburg Sept. 26-27 (Tuesday-Wednesday) at the Edgewater Hotel.
Committee meetings start at 1 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday. The regular TFWC meeting begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Division presented proposals to the sport fish proclamation during a preview at the August TFWC meeting in Nashville.
The changes to the sport fish proclamation included a proposal that would close upper Cherokee Reservoir to snagging from March 1 through May 31, except during the snagging season (April 1-15). The purpose of the closures would be to protect paddlefish from over-harvest.
Another proposal would reduce the area on the Elk River of Watauga Reservoir that has a hook restriction during January through April. The change would allow anglers to use all types fishing gear in this section of the river year round. The last two proposals would open delayed-harvest trout fishing areas on Doe River in Carter County and Buffalo Creek in Grainger County.
In regard to commercial fishing, a proposed proclamation would allow commercial fishermen to harvest Asian carp from privately-owned lakes adjacent to the Mississippi River. Fishermen would need landowner permission and have to tend their gill-nets at all times. The proposal would also allow commercial fisherman to harvest Asian carp from Willow Chute and Rhodes Lake in Moss Island Wildlife Management Area.
In addition to the setting of the sport fish and commercial regulations, TWRA Fisheries Division Chief Frank Fiss will also announce the agency’s annual fisheries biologist and technician of the year.
Other agenda items will include a report on the comptroller performance audit discussion on a marketing effort, and discussion on a media campaign to inform the public about chronic wasting disease (CWD) and efforts to keep it out of Tennessee. In addition, the latest addition to the Hunter Education Hall of Fame will be introduced to the commission.