Statewide Limits & Regulations
Last Updated: September 15, 2026
What's Changed | 2025 (Previous) | 2026 (New) |
| Pole or Rod Limit definition | "There is no limit on the number of poles an angler may fish at one (1) time." | Defined as the number of lines actively used (baited or deployed in the water) at one time; no limit on poles an angler may use. |
Statewide Creel and Length Limits |
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The following are the creel and size limits that apply statewide. Several waters have exceptions to these limits. Refer to the linked pages listed below this table to see exceptions to the statewide regulations. If you are fishing a location that does not have exceptions listed in this guide, then the statewide limits apply. |
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Species |
Creel Limit |
Minimum Length Limit |
Black Bass (includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Alabama, Coosa and all hybrids) |
5 |
none |
Crappie (all species combined) |
15 |
10 inches |
Region 1 Crappie Exception: unless otherwise noted for specific waters. |
30 |
none |
Rock Bass or Redeye and Shadow Bass |
20 |
none |
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass (any combination) |
2 |
15 inches |
White Bass |
15 |
none |
Muskellunge |
1 |
36 inches |
Sauger or Sauger/Walleye hybrids |
10 |
15 inches |
Walleye |
5 |
16 inches |
Trout (all trout species combined) |
7 |
none |
Lake Trout |
Only 2 trout may be Lake Trout. |
none |
Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) |
20 |
none |
Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Warmouth, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and nongame species |
no limit |
none |
Skipjack Herring |
100 |
none |
Alligator Gar: No harvest allowed. Must be returned to water immediately. |
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Catfish: Only one (1) catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches. |
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Paddlefish: Paddlefish may be harvested from April 24 through May 31. Daily creel limit is two (2) fish per day with no size limit. Culling is prohibited. For exceptions on Center Hill, Cherokee, and Watts Bar reservoirs, see Reservoir Regulations. |
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Shovelnose Sturgeon: No harvest allowed. Must be returned to water immediately. |
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Exceptions to the statewide limits and other regulations:
Measuring a Fish's Length
Lay the fish on a flat ruler, close the mouth, and squeeze the lobes of the tail fin to produce the maximum length. The mouth of the fish may not be manipulated or extended.
TWRA’s goal is to manage each species of fish with statewide creel and length limits where possible. However, many waters, because of their unique characteristics, require individual creel and length limits. These regulations improve fishing for all anglers.
Minimum Length Limits restrict the harvest of fish below a specified minimum length. For example, a 15-inch minimum length limit allows the angler to keep fish 15 inches or greater. Fish less than 15 inches cannot be harvested.
Protected Length Ranges (PLRs) allow anglers to harvest fish above and below a specified length range. For example, a 14–18-inch PLR protects fish in the 14–18-inch length group. Anglers may harvest fish that measure less than 14 inches and they may harvest fish that measure over 18 inches. For a protected length range to be effective, anglers must harvest fish below the protected range.
Possession Limits are twice the daily creel limit. You may not have more than the daily creel limit with you while afield. It is unlawful to have, while afield, any fish which has been altered so that its species and/or total body length cannot be determined.
Pole or Rod Limit means the number of lines actively used (baited or deployed in the water) by an angler at any one (1) time. Unless otherwise noted in this guide or by proclamation, there is no limit on the number of poles an angler may use at one (1) time.
Statewide Hook Restriction
Unless otherwise restricted in this guide, anglers are restricted to a maximum of 3 hooks per rod, pole or hand-held line. Single, double or treble hooks each count as one (1) hook. The statewide hook restriction does not apply when using a sabiki rig (also known as a piscatore rig) to take shad or herring. A sabiki rig is a set of small lures attached to a single line, typically used to catch baitfish.
Banned In Tennessee
It is unlawful to possess or transport live specimens of the following animals:
- Silver Carp
(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
- Bighead Carp
(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
- Black Carp
(Mylopharyngodon piceus)
- Blueback Herring
(Alosa aestivalis)
- Marbled Crayfish (Marmorkrebs)
(Procambarus virginalis)
- New Zealand Mud Snail
(Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
- Round Goby
(Neogobius melanostomus)
- Rudd
(Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
- Ruffe
(Gymnocephalus cernua)
- Snakeheads
(all members of the Family Channidae)
- Swamp Eels
(all members of the Family Synbranchidae)
- Zebra Mussels
(Dreissena polymorpha)
Tennessee First Fish Award—FREE!
The First Fish Award is designed to commemorate that special moment in every boy or girl’s life—the landing of their first fish.
The award is an 8.5 x 11 certificate, suitable for framing, identifying the child, the fish caught, and other details of that special moment. Size of the fish and age of the angler have no bearing, only that the fish is their first and that it was caught in Tennessee.
Visit www.tnwildlife.org or call (615) 781-6575 for further information.
Tennessee's Lake Sturgeon Project
Lake Sturgeon are a primitive species that can grow to 8 feet in length, weigh up to 300 pounds, and live for 150 years. Since 2000, over 300,000 Lake Sturgeon have been stocked into the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. These stocking efforts are designed to restore reproducing populations of this primitive species. This species is known to travel long distances, so it is very likely that anglers could catch lake sturgeon in other waters of the state.
Angler reports are important to TWRA because they provide important information needed to monitor the success of Tennessee’s Lake Sturgeon program.
If you catch a Lake Sturgeon, please be as careful as possible not to harm the fish-avoid holding the Lake Sturgeon by their tails and remember fish cannot breathe while they are out of the water. Lake Sturgeon are threatened in Tennessee and should be released immediately. If possible, note an approximate length before the fish is released. Additionally, a photo of your catch would be appreciated if you can do so without harming the fish.
You can email details (including photos) of your catch to [email protected] or your local regional office. In gratitude of your efforts, you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the TWRA.
