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Tennessee

Fishing

Fishing

License Fees

Buy your license online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com

Resident Licenses

Resident licenses can be purchased by:

  • Persons who possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee state ID issued by the Department of Safety. Tennessee state law requires drivers to obtain a Tennessee drivers license within 30 days of residency. Out-of-state driver's license only accepted for Military Personnel and Students meeting the criteria below.
  • Persons who do not drive or do not possess a valid driver's license from another state, but who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the genuine intent of making Tennessee their permanent home, may prove residency by presenting to a TWRA license agent any two of the following documents:
    • current Tennessee voter registration card;
    • current Tennessee vehicle registration or title;
    • Form I-94 issued by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service
    • current rental/mortgage contract or receipt including deed of sale for property or receipt for payment of Tennessee real estate taxes within last year
  • Military personnel on active duty in this state and children under 16 years of age who reside with them, regardless of Tennessee resident status.
  • Students who are enrolled in a Tennessee school, college or university for at least six months, with an appropriate student ID.
  • Nonresidents that were born in the State of Tennessee, upon completion of an application for a Native Tennessean license. See License Information for details.

NOTE: A Social Security Number is required to purchase a Tennessee hunting or fishing license. Ages 12 and under no license is required, some permits may still apply.

License

Fee

Annual Hunting and Fishing Combination ages 16–64

$33

Minimum license required to fish and/or hunt small game.

Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap ages 13–15

$9

Good for hunting all game, fishing and trapping. Must be purchased prior to 16th birthday. No supplemental licenses are required, but special season and WMA big game permits will need to be purchased in addition to this license. Fees apply when applying for quota hunt permits as well as “left over” permits.

One-Day Fishing No Trout; ages 13–64

$6

One-Day Fishing All Species includes trout; ages 16–64

$11

Annual Trout Supplemental ages 16–64

$21

Annual Trout is a supplemental license required to fish for trout in addition to the Annual Combo.

Annual Sportsman ages 16–64

$165

An all-inclusive license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any TWRA supplemental licenses or non-quota permits; allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee.

Annual Hunt/Fish Disabled Under Age 18

$5

Available by application only.

County of Residence Fishing - No Trout ages 13 and over

$10

This license allows an angler to fish in his/her county of residence with natural bait (worms, crickets, cut bait, corn, etc.), but not minnows. No artificial baits can be used. A supplemental license is required to fish for trout.

South Holston Reservoir Supplemental ages 13 and over

$20

This additional license allows licensed TN resident anglers to fish the VA portion of South Holston Reservoir. This is essentially a VA license sold by TWRA, therefore all license holders, including the sportsman’s license holders, would need to purchase this additional license if fishing in VA.

Annual Resident Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap ages 65 and over

$4

Available at all license agents and can only be purchased when 65th birthday is reached. A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but applicable permits are required.

Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap ages 65 and over

$49

Available from any license agent for a one-time fee, and valid as long as holder remains a resident of Tennessee. This is not a Lifetime Sportsman License. Additional permits may be required. Can only be purchased when 65th birthday is reached. A valid Tennessee driver’s license or proof of age and residency is required. A trout license is not required.

Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman ages 65 and over

$49

An all-inclusive license valid for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or permits. Sportsman licenses can be purchased from all license agents.

Lifetime Sportsman age determines the cost

An all-inclusive lifetime license valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without any Tennessee supplemental licenses or permits. Allows holders to apply for quota permits at no additional fee. Applications are available at tnwildlife.org or your local office. Applications may be submitted by email at [email protected], mail, fax (615-837-4262) or TWRA offices.

Infant (Under 3 years)

$320

Toddler (Ages 3–6)

$659

Youth (Ages 7–12)

$988

Adult (Ages 13–50)

$1,976

Older Adult (Ages 51–64)

$1,153

Senior (Ages 65 & over)

$329

Adopted Child
Lifetime license available for children under 13 adopted within previous 3 years.

$320

Nonresident Licenses

Ages 12 and under, no license required.

License

Fee

Junior Hunt/Fish Required for nonresidents age 13–15 fishing and small game only)

$10

Three-Day Fishing—no trout

$20

Ten-Day Fishing —no trout

$30

Annual Fishing—no trout

$49

Three-Day All Species—includes trout

$40

Ten-Day All Species —includes trout

$61

Annual All Species —includes trout

$98

Special Permits (Resident and Nonresident)

If you purchase one of the following special permits, you must also have all applicable licenses. Holders of Annual Sportsman’s License, Lifetime Sportsman’s License or Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman do not need to purchase permits below.

License

Fee

Reelfoot Lake Permit is required for all users except: those under 16 years of age; residents 65 years or older.

Reelfoot Preservation Permit—Annual

$16

Reelfoot Preservation Permit—Three-Day

$10

Reelfoot Preservation Permit—Daily

$3

Tellico-Citico Permit is required seasonally to fish Tellico River, Citico Creek. See Trout Regulations for details.

Tellico-Citico Trout—Daily; Required for all ages. See Trout Regulations.

$6

Agency Lake Permits are required to fish Agency Fishing Lakes (Exceptions to Statewide Regulations), except those under 16 years of age and residents 65 years or older.

Daily TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit—Daily Permit
Valid on all Agency lakes, this permit is sold at Agency Lake offices.

$6

TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit—Annual Permit Valid on all Agency lakes, this permit is sold online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or at Agency Lake Offices

$48

Bedford Lake 1-Day Fishing

$6

Lake Halford 1-Day Permit - required for anyone utilizing the area for recreation except those under 16 years of age and residents 65 years or older (TWRA Fishing Lakes Information).

$6

Annual Lake Halford Permit-required for anyone utilizing the area for recreation except those under 16 years of age and residents 65 years or older (TWRA Fishing Lakes Information).

$48

Gatlinburg Trout Fishing – For information on fishing in the Gatlinburg area, contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-568-4748 or the Gatlinburg trout facility at 865-436-4558.

3-Day Gatlinburg Trout Permit Required for residents ages 13–64 and nonresidents ages 13 and up in addition to the appropriate fishing licenses except for those who purchase the Gatlinburg One-Day Trout permit.

$9

1-Day Gatlinburg Trout License Only requirement for residents and nonresidents ages 13 and up to fish in Gatlinburg for one day.

$11

1-Day Gatlinburg Trout Permit Required for residents ages 13–64 and nonresidents ages 13 and up in addition to the appropriate fishing licenses except for those who purchase the Gatlinburg One-Day Trout permit.

$3

Resident Permanent Licenses

The following licenses are available only by application. Applications are online and can be submitted at your local TWRA office, by email at [email protected] or mail. A doctor’s statement is required as defined on the application. Licenses are valid as long as holder remains a resident of Tennessee. These are not Lifetime Sportsman Licenses. Additional permits may be required.

License

Fee

Sport Fishing Certified Blind

$10

Wheelchair Hunt/Fish Resident License

$10

Application must be accompanied by a doctor’s statement stating that the applicant is permanently confined to a wheelchair.

Resident Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing

$10

Available to resident veterans certified by the VA as 30 percent disabled by reason of war service or 100% service connected.

Resident Permanent SSI Fishing sport fish only

$10

Must be receiving SSI Benefits due to intellectual disability.

Hunt and Fish Intellect Disabled Resident

$10

Application must be accompanied by a doctor's statement stating that the applicant is intellectually disabled.

Guide License

This license is required for anyone who accepts compensation for providing assistance to another in any act of hunting, fishing, and/or trapping. Available by application only.

License

Fee

Resident Guide License

$150

Nonresident Guide License

$650