Know the paddlefish season, reservoir exceptions and roe rules before you snag
Tennessee allows recreational paddlefish harvest on specified dates, but the season and daily limit change by reservoir. A regular sport-fishing license also does not authorize commercial paddlefish or caviar sales.
The 2026 recreational paddlefish harvest windows have ended
As of October 15, 2026, Tennessee’s listed recreational paddlefish seasons have passed. The next scheduled windows are in spring 2027 under the published 2026–27 rules, subject to any TWRA changes or emergency restrictions.
Commercial roe-fish season rules are different. Do not apply recreational April–May dates to a commercial roe harvest operation.
Tennessee paddlefish season dates and limits by water
The general season covers waters without a more restrictive regulation. TWRA explicitly lists Center Hill, Cherokee and Watts Bar as exceptions.
April 1–15
April 24–May 31
May 1–15
Closed
The timeline is a simplified visual of the named harvest windows, not a geographic map or a substitute for reach-specific TWRA restrictions.
| Water / rule | Open season | Daily limit | Important exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Tennessee waters | April 24–May 31 | 2 | No minimum length; no culling. Named-water exceptions override the general rule. |
| Cherokee Reservoir | April 1–15 | 1 | No culling. The Holston River reach above Malinda Ferry Road has additional snagging closures. |
| Watts Bar Reservoir | May 1–15 | 1 | No culling. Emory River paddlefish closure and upper-reservoir snagging restrictions apply. |
| Center Hill Reservoir and tributaries | Closed | 0 | Taking or possessing paddlefish is prohibited. |
| Reelfoot Lake | April 24–May 31 | 2 | No culling; check the Reelfoot Preservation Permit and posted motorboat closures. |
Can you harvest a paddlefish on your planned fishing day?
Choose a reservoir and a date. This educational checker uses the published recreational seasons. It does not cover every restricted cove, tributary, dam zone, or emergency order.
Recheck the official TWRA rules immediately before the trip. The checker identifies the main recreational harvest window only and cannot authorize snagging at a restricted location.
Where the practical paddlefish rules change
Cherokee: early season, only one fish
Cherokee has a short April 1–15 recreational paddlefish season. The daily harvest is one fish, with no length limit and no culling.
TWRA describes a spring concentration of paddlefish in the upper reservoir as fish migrate toward spawning areas. Its species page mentions the Horseshoe Bend area, but anglers must still check exact access and snagging restrictions.
Extra closure: the Holston River from the Malinda Ferry Road (Highway 344) bridge upstream to John Sevier Dam is closed to snagging March 1–31 and April 16–May 31.
Watts Bar: May 1–15, one fish
Watts Bar allows one paddlefish per day May 1–15. No culling is allowed.
The Emory River from its mouth upstream to the Highway 299 bridge at Oakdale is closed to snagging, taking or possessing paddlefish or their parts.
From the US-321 bridge upstream to Fort Loudoun Dam, additional snagging closures operate March 15–April 30 and May 16–31.
Center Hill: do not keep paddlefish
TWRA explicitly closes Center Hill Reservoir and its tributaries to taking or possessing paddlefish.
Snagging is also prohibited on Center Hill Reservoir year-round. The statewide April–May season does not create an exception to either closure.
Reelfoot: two fish, plus access rules
Reelfoot follows the April 24–May 31 season with a two-paddlefish daily limit and no culling.
A Reelfoot Preservation Permit is required for applicable lake users, with exceptions for people under 16, residents 65 or older, and lifetime or Sportsman license holders. Gasoline-powered boats are restricted in TWRA-posted areas April 1–May 31.
Do you need a special paddlefish license or roe permit to snag recreationally?
TWRA does not list a separate ordinary recreational paddlefish stamp or sport roe permit in its standard license fee structure. A non-exempt angler needs an appropriate Tennessee sport-fishing license, plus any genuinely applicable access or special-area permit.
Resident annual Combination Hunt/Fish is a common starting license for ordinary non-trout fishing. Annual eligibility and processing charges apply.
Listed 3-day nonresident fishing license without trout. Check whether the trip duration and intended fishing area match this product.
Listed annual nonresident fishing license without trout. Processing fees are additional.
For the complete resident/nonresident choices, see the Tennessee fishing license guide. If you are comparing base products that exclude trout, see the Tennessee no-trout license guide.
How to prepare the correct license before paddlefish season
- Confirm that the water is open for harvest. Choose the exact reservoir or river reach, then verify the season dates and limit in TWRA’s current fishing guide.
- Determine your license eligibility. Check age, residency, and whether a valid license or lawful exemption already applies.
- Open Go Outdoors Tennessee. Use the existing customer account or retrieve the TWRA customer number before creating a duplicate account.
- Select the proper sport-fishing product. A standard non-trout fishing product can be suitable for ordinary paddlefish sport fishing; do not purchase commercial roe privileges for an ordinary recreational trip.
- Check location-specific permits. For example, Reelfoot may require its Preservation Permit even when you already hold a fishing license.
- Review validity and the final total. Most annual Tennessee licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase unless otherwise stated. Processing fees may apply.
- Save a legal license copy. Tennessee permits electronic license proof; keep an offline copy or print a backup before fishing remote water.
- Recheck restrictions before casting. Confirm the water-specific snagging reach, dam exclusion, creel limit, culling ban and any emergency regulation.
For broader special-water permit comparisons, use the Tennessee fishing permit guide.
Is snagging paddlefish legal in Tennessee?
Yes, snagging is a recognized fishing method under Tennessee regulations, but the legal method season is not the same as the legal paddlefish harvest season. Paddlefish may be taken only where the applicable species season and all local method restrictions allow it.
Maximum three hooks
Unless specifically restricted, a rod, pole or hand-held line may use no more than three hooks. TWRA counts a single, double or treble hook as one hook for this rule.
Stay clear below dams
Snagging and other listed methods are prohibited within 100 yards below dams. At Pickwick Dam, the closed reach extends to the first moorage cell across from the ramp.
Check named closures
Center Hill, the South Holston tailwater, parts of Cherokee and Watts Bar, and certain other reaches have specific snagging prohibitions.
| Location | Snagging restriction | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| South Holston tailwater | Year-round from South Holston Dam to Highway 390 bridge at Bluff City | Do not use snagging equipment in this designated reach. |
| Center Hill Reservoir | Snagging prohibited year-round | The reservoir also prohibits taking or possessing paddlefish. |
| Cumberland Fossil Plant discharge | Discharge channel into Barkley Reservoir closed to snagging | A legal reservoir fishing license does not open the discharge channel. |
| Cherokee / Holston reach | March 1–31 and April 16–May 31 between Malinda Ferry Road bridge and John Sevier Dam | Use the narrow Cherokee April 1–15 season only where the snagging method is also legal. |
| Watts Bar upper reservoir | March 15–April 30 and May 16–31 from US-321 bridge upstream to Fort Loudoun Dam | Do not interpret the reservoir’s May 1–15 paddlefish season as permission outside that window. |
| Emory River | Paddlefish snagging, taking and possession closed from the mouth upstream to Highway 299 bridge at Oakdale | Do not bring harvested paddlefish or paddlefish parts into the restricted reach. |
Know a paddlefish before deciding whether to keep it
American paddlefish
The native American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) has a distinctive elongated, paddle-shaped snout, a largely smooth body and a deeply forked tail. It feeds mainly by filtering plankton rather than striking ordinary lures.
TWRA notes that paddlefish can live for decades and attain very large size. Slow-growing populations require careful harvest management.
Do not confuse protected fish
Shovelnose sturgeon are protected from harvest under Tennessee’s statewide regulations. Alligator gar must also be released. Species identification matters when unusual fish are snagged incidentally.
If a fish is not legal to keep, handle it carefully and release it promptly. Do not deliberately snag protected fish.
Two fish per day does not mean you can keep replacing fish
On waters subject to the general Tennessee paddlefish rule.
Their special reservoir limits override the general rule.
Closed to taking or possessing paddlefish.
TWRA’s general possession rule limits total possession to twice the daily creel limit and prohibits carrying more than the daily creel limit while afield. The stricter water-specific rules and any other applicable restrictions still control.
Personal-use paddlefish roe and commercial roe harvest are different activities
Because paddlefish roe can be processed as caviar, searches for a Tennessee paddlefish permit frequently mix two distinct legal questions: recreational fishing for personal use and commercial harvest or sale of roe-bearing fish.
Fishing and personal use
- Requires the appropriate sport-fishing license unless a lawful exemption applies.
- Must follow the reservoir’s paddlefish season, daily creel and method restrictions.
- Does not include a right to sell recreationally caught fish, eggs or caviar.
- TWRA’s Cherokee Reservoir guidance acknowledges personal preparation of roe from legally harvested paddlefish.
Harvest for commerce or roe sales
- Requires the applicable commercial fishing license.
- Requires an additional commercial roe-fish permit to harvest a roe-fish species commercially.
- Has separate seasons, approved gears, mesh requirements, reporting and fishery restrictions.
- Permit availability and approval are separate from merely having the money to pay the listed fee.
Commercial paddlefish roe permits: listed cost and current availability
A commercial roe-fish permit is a supplemental authorization, not a replacement for the commercial fishing license. TWRA currently lists the following fees.
This is a fee comparison, not confirmation that a permit is currently obtainable. Other fees, approval conditions or lawful commercial operating requirements can apply.
How to start a legitimate commercial roe-fish inquiry
- Open the TWRA Commercial Fishing page. Read the commercial license and commercial roe sections separately.
- Confirm permit availability first. TWRA currently identifies resident roe permits as unavailable. Do not treat the posted fee as an open application offer.
- Check the current commercial fishing proclamation. Identify the precise commercial season, waterbody, approved net or other gear, roe-fish restrictions and reporting obligations.
- Contact TWRA commercial licensing staff. Ask which current commercial fishing and roe-fish application requirements apply before buying or deploying gear.
- Follow any additional lawful business, reporting and transaction requirements. A sport-fishing license or ordinary retail transaction does not establish commercial roe privileges.
Commercial paddlefish season is not the April–May recreational season
TWRA separately regulates commercial roe fisheries. Its commercial fishery actions include distinct season timing, net counts, mesh sizes and Kentucky Lake provisions.
Separate commercial calendar
TWRA’s commission adjusted the commercial Kentucky Lake paddlefish season to end March 31. That date does not replace the April–May recreational paddlefish season.
Commercial gear requirements
Commission actions also addressed the number and mesh dimensions of gill nets, including a transition to seven-inch mesh for specified commercial gear beginning August 1, 2026, subject to water-specific exceptions.
For context, see TWRA’s commission report on commercial paddlefish regulation changes. Current proclamations, rather than an older news release, control actual operations.
Check which state’s water you are fishing before snagging
Tennessee has reciprocal sport-fishing license arrangements on specified interstate waters. Reciprocal recognition of a license does not mean every state has identical paddlefish seasons, gear restrictions or commercial roe permissions.
Pickwick Lake
The Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi license agreement applies within defined waters. Anglers must follow the fishing regulations of the state whose waters they are fishing.
Pickwick Dam also has a specially described snagging exclusion extending downstream to the first moorage cell across from the ramp.
Kentucky Lake and other interstate waters
License reciprocity is restricted to the boundaries defined by TWRA’s agreements. A reciprocal sport license does not automatically authorize commercial harvest or eliminate local species rules.
Check the state boundary, shoreline jurisdiction, exact water and any commercial-fishing restrictions independently.
Seven errors that can turn a paddlefish trip into a violation
- Using the statewide dates on Cherokee or Watts Bar. Their own 15-day seasons and one-fish limits control.
- Planning to keep a paddlefish at Center Hill. Its reservoir and tributaries are closed to taking or possessing paddlefish.
- Snagging below a dam without checking the restricted reach. General and site-specific dam exclusions apply independently of a legal harvest season.
- Keeping a small fish, then swapping it for a larger one. Paddlefish culling is prohibited.
- Assuming a trout or general sport license grants commercial roe privileges. Commercial harvest requires distinct authorization.
- Selling Cherokee paddlefish eggs. TWRA expressly prohibits sale of paddlefish eggs or any other part of the fish from Cherokee Reservoir.
- Ignoring special Reelfoot access conditions. Fishing permits, preservation-permit eligibility and seasonal motorboat restrictions are separate decisions.
What to check before your next paddlefish outing
1. Identify the exact water
Confirm reservoir name, river reach, boat access and whether a special paddlefish closure applies.
2. Verify the planned date
Compare the named water’s seasonal window with current TWRA regulations and any newer restriction.
3. Prepare the right license
Use a valid recreational license or documented exemption and purchase any required special-area access permit.
4. Inspect snagging gear
Check legal hook count and method restrictions at the exact location.
5. Plan for the harvest limit
Know whether the applicable limit is zero, one or two paddlefish and remember the culling ban.
6. Check current water safety
Below dams, confirm generation, closures and posted exclusion markers. Never enter a restricted area.
For a complete purchase-price comparison before the trip, see the Tennessee fishing license cost guide.
Verify the final rule with the authority that manages the fishery
Tennessee paddlefish fishing rules FAQs
When is Tennessee’s recreational paddlefish season?
The general recreational harvest season is April 24 through May 31, with a two-fish daily creel and no culling. Cherokee Reservoir, Watts Bar Reservoir and Center Hill Reservoir have different rules, so the statewide season does not apply to every water.
How many paddlefish can I keep at Cherokee and Watts Bar?
Cherokee allows one paddlefish per day from April 1 through April 15. Watts Bar allows one per day from May 1 through May 15. Neither reservoir allows culling.
Can I catch and keep paddlefish at Center Hill Reservoir?
No. TWRA closes Center Hill Reservoir and its tributaries to taking or possessing paddlefish. Snagging is also prohibited on Center Hill Reservoir throughout the year.
Is snagging paddlefish legal in Tennessee?
Snagging is a recognized fishing method, but paddlefish harvest is limited to the applicable open species season and waterbody. General dam exclusions and specific snagging closures also apply. An open paddlefish season does not override a closed snagging reach.
What does the Tennessee paddlefish culling ban mean?
Culling means removing a fish from your retained catch and replacing it with another fish of the same species. Tennessee prohibits culling paddlefish, so anglers cannot keep one and later replace it with a larger fish.
Do recreational paddlefish anglers need a commercial roe permit?
No. An ordinary recreational angler does not buy a commercial roe permit merely to sport fish for paddlefish. A valid sport-fishing license or lawful exemption, the correct season and local restrictions still apply. Commercial roe harvest or sale requires separate authorization.
Can I sell paddlefish roe harvested from Cherokee Reservoir?
No. TWRA specifically states that selling paddlefish eggs or any other part of a paddlefish from Cherokee Reservoir is illegal. TWRA describes personal preparation of roe from legally harvested Cherokee paddlefish but does not permit commercial sale of those fish or eggs.
How much is Tennessee’s commercial roe-fish permit?
TWRA lists a $1,220 resident supplemental commercial roe-fish permit but currently says none are available. The nonresident supplemental permit is listed at $1,830. A separate commercial fishing license is also required, and permit availability and approval must be confirmed with TWRA.
Do I need a Reelfoot Preservation Permit for paddlefish fishing?
Applicable Reelfoot Lake users need the Preservation Permit in addition to any required fishing license. TWRA lists exceptions for people under age 16, Tennessee residents age 65 or older, and lifetime or Sportsman license holders. Reelfoot’s paddlefish season is April 24 through May 31 with a two-fish daily limit.
Can I snag paddlefish directly below a Tennessee dam?
Not within the general 100-yard exclusion below dams. At Pickwick Dam, the restricted area extends downstream to the first moorage cell across from the ramp. Additional specific closures can apply. Always obey posted exclusion boundaries and dam safety warnings.
The exact water decides the rule—not the statewide season alone
Before paddlefish fishing, verify the waterbody, date, legal method, license, daily creel and any special closure. If commercial roe harvesting is involved, obtain TWRA confirmation of the required licenses, permit availability and currently effective commercial proclamation before operating.
TennesseeFishingLicense.website is an independent informational resource. It is not the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, does not issue licenses or roe permits and cannot authorize fishing in a closed area. Current official regulations and TWRA decisions control.