Commercial Fishing

Commercial Fishing License

In order to commercially harvest a fish or turtle in the State of Tennessee an individual must have a commercial fishing license.

The type of license and/or permit that he/she will need to purchase or obtain will depend on the person’s age and/or residency status.

Those individuals under the age of 70 will need to purchase a type 101 or 103 license.   A type 101 license is for residents of the State of Tennessee and a type 103 license is for non-residents.   

If an individual is over the age of 70 then he/she must obtain a type 100 annual resident senior citizen commercial fishing license. This type is issued at no charge to those residents 70 years old or older who furnish proof of residency and age.

 

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Commercial Helpers

Licensed commercial fishermen that want to hire a helper (assistant/day labor) can purchase a type 102 permit. This type permit can only be purchased by a licensed commercial fisherman and allows for one individual per permit. Each additional helper will require an additional permit.

Commercial Turtle Harvest

Individuals interested in commercially harvesting turtles will first need to purchase a resident or nonresident commercial fishing license (see above). In addition to a resident or nonresident license a type 106 permit is required for commercial harvest of legal species of turtles.

Commercial Roe Fish Harvest

Individuals interested in commercially harvesting paddlefish and bowfin will first need to purchase a resident or nonresident commercial fishing license (see above). An additional type 108 (resident) or a type 110 (nonresident) permit is required for harvesting roe fish species.