(a) A resident of Tennessee may fish in the waters of such person‘s county of legal residence by use of a hook and line or a single trotline with not more than fifty (50) hooks, and natural or cut bait if such person possesses a county of residence fishing license. Additionally, possession of this license permits a person who resides in a city that lies in two (2) or more counties to fish in all of the waters of that city, including those waters in the city lying outside of the person’s county of legal residence.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 70-2-203

  • Fish: means all species of trout, salmon, walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, perch, sunfish, drum, carp, sucker, shad, minnow, and such other species of fish that are presently found in the state or may be introduced or transplanted into this state for consumptive or nonconsumptive use. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
  • Fishing: means any effort made to take, kill, injure, capture, or catch any fish and every act of assistance in any effort. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
  • Person: means an individual, association, partnership, or corporation. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
  • Possession: means both actual and constructive possession, and any control of the object or objects referred to. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
  • Resident: means any person who resides in this state for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days with the genuine intent of making this state that person's place of permanent abode, and who, when absent, intends to return to this state. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Wildlife: means wild vertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. See Tennessee Code 70-1-101
(b) Other appropriate license is required:

(1) To fish within one’s county of legal residence, for residents who do not qualify for a county of residence fishing license under subsection (a) or who qualify but who choose to purchase any other appropriate license;
(2) To fish outside one’s county of legal residence unless such person qualifies under the exception contained in subsection (a);
(3) If minnows or artificial lures are used;
(4) If one fishes in a state lake or state-owned or operated wildlife management area; or
(5) To fish for or take trout.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
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