Tennessee Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater RestrictedFreshwater Permitted

Tennessee is a landlocked state with no marine waters, so all spearfishing is freshwater.

License

Required: Tennessee Resident/Nonresident Fishing License (annual, or short-term)

Resident: Tennessee has no single 'resident annual all-species fishing' license; residents combine options: County of Residence Fishing (no trout) $10, Combination Hunt/Fish annual (includes fishing, no trout) $33, add the Annual Trout Supplemental $21 for trout, or the all-inclusive Annual Sportsman $165 (hunting+trapping+fishing). Senior (65+) Hunt/Fish/Trap $4. Fees subject to change - confirm current figures with TWRA

Non-resident: Nonresident annual approximately $49 (no trout) / $98 (all species); short-term options include 3-day (~$20 no-trout / ~$40 all-species) and 10-day (~$30 / ~$61) (verify current figures with TWRA)

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Legal. A spear-gun is defined as 'any device designed to propel a spear through water and is drawn or held by mechanical device'; spear-gun.
• Pole spears: Legal as 'gigging' - defined as taking fish by a hand-held pole or spear with a tip of a single sharpened point or one or more sharpened.
• On scuba: The sport fishing proclamation does not specifically address or prohibit SCUBA/diving for spear-gun fishing; underwater spear-gun fishing.
• Only nongame fish (per statewide limits) plus catfish (per catfish limits) may be taken by gig, spear-gun, Hawaiian sling, or archery
• Game fish may NOT be speared or gigged - rod-and-reel only
• Sturgeon and alligator gar may not be taken by any method (sturgeon per proclamation no-harvest table; alligator gar per TWRA.
• Closed within 100 yards below dams (at Pickwick, extends to the first moorage cell; John Sevier Steam Plant discharge channel also closed)

Do not spear

• All designated game fish, which may be taken by rod-and-reel only and NOT speared/gigged
• Sturgeon
• Alligator gar
• Note: catfish

Area restrictions

• Within 100 yards below any dam is closed (at Pickwick the closure extends downstream to the first moorage cell across from the boat ramp; the John.
• Norris Reservoir: closed Jan 1-Apr 30 between River Mile 32 (Point 15) and the Hwy 25E Bridge on the Powell River Arm, and between River Mile 137.
• Watauga Reservoir tributaries (incl. Elk River in Carter Co., Doe Creek, Roan Creek, Watauga River) closed Jan 1-Apr 30
• East Fork Obey River and tributaries closed Jan 1-Apr 30

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA): https://www.tn.gov/twra.html