rsimms
Well-known member
In what could have been a very noteworthy and eventful Wildlife Commission meeting, the TWRC opted to do.... nothing. Of course in some ways that might be good. Read on:
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission heard several topics concerning commercial fishing and also approved the 2012 sport fishing regulations among business at its October meeting which concluded Friday.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff responded to the recommendations from the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee (CFAC) that was established recently by the Tennessee General Assembly. The volunteer CFAC committee is entirely comprised of nine members of the commercial fishing community and made several recommendations to the TWRA at its initial meeting in August 2011.
Among the CFAC recommendations were eliminating the size limit restriction on big catfish and the opening of six new waters to commercial fishing. These waters are Norris, Watts Bar, upper Old Hickory, Cordell Hull, Melton Hill, and Tellico reservoirs.
The TWRA responded that the big catfish regulation also affects sport fishing. Therefore, the agency recommends seeking more input from the sport fishing public. “We will consider this recommendation by the CFAC in our discussion at our annual fisheries biologists meeting in May 2012,” said Bobby Wilson, TWRA Fisheries Division Chief.
Commercial fishermen are only seeking the harvest of paddlefish in five of the six new waters CFAC recommends opening. Paddlefish are sought after primarily for its roe which is sold as caviar in this country and abroad.
“The TWRA is mandated by the commercial fishing law (T.C.A. Section 70-2-301) to develop a plan to study the opening of new waters for the possibility of paddlefish harvest, said Wilson. Until the plan is developed and studies are completed to determine status of the paddlefish population as well as the potential effects on sport fish, the agency does not recommend the opening of any new waters at this time.”
The TWRC previously asked TWRA staff to explore the options concerning the possibility of establishing a fishing guide license. TWRA staff presented three options concerning a possible fishing guide license during its September meeting held in Jackson. At this month’s meeting, the TWRC elected to postpone taking any action at this meeting. However, the guide license will be addressed after a comprehensive review of all user groups in tailwaters and streams.
The 2012 sport fish regulations were approved by the commission. The regulations feature only slight changes from last year concerning size and creel limit at selected locations.
Among the changes for 2012:
- Increase the creel limit on largemouth bass at Gibson County Lake in West Tennessee from 5 to 10 fish per day.
- At Lake LaJoie and Lake Placid at Chickasaw State Park in West Tennessee, replace the current 15-inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass with a 14-18 inch slot limit and a creel limit of 10 fish per day, only 1 of which can be over 18 inches.
- At Ft. Patrick Henry Reservoir in East Tennessee, place an 18-inch minimum size limit on walleye with a creel limit of 5 fish per day.
- Redefine the Boone Reservoir boundary in East Tennessee for fish regulation purposes on the South Fork Holston River Arm from the Highway 11E Bridge to the Highway 37 Bridge at Bluff City.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission heard several topics concerning commercial fishing and also approved the 2012 sport fishing regulations among business at its October meeting which concluded Friday.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff responded to the recommendations from the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee (CFAC) that was established recently by the Tennessee General Assembly. The volunteer CFAC committee is entirely comprised of nine members of the commercial fishing community and made several recommendations to the TWRA at its initial meeting in August 2011.
Among the CFAC recommendations were eliminating the size limit restriction on big catfish and the opening of six new waters to commercial fishing. These waters are Norris, Watts Bar, upper Old Hickory, Cordell Hull, Melton Hill, and Tellico reservoirs.
The TWRA responded that the big catfish regulation also affects sport fishing. Therefore, the agency recommends seeking more input from the sport fishing public. “We will consider this recommendation by the CFAC in our discussion at our annual fisheries biologists meeting in May 2012,” said Bobby Wilson, TWRA Fisheries Division Chief.
Commercial fishermen are only seeking the harvest of paddlefish in five of the six new waters CFAC recommends opening. Paddlefish are sought after primarily for its roe which is sold as caviar in this country and abroad.
“The TWRA is mandated by the commercial fishing law (T.C.A. Section 70-2-301) to develop a plan to study the opening of new waters for the possibility of paddlefish harvest, said Wilson. Until the plan is developed and studies are completed to determine status of the paddlefish population as well as the potential effects on sport fish, the agency does not recommend the opening of any new waters at this time.”
The TWRC previously asked TWRA staff to explore the options concerning the possibility of establishing a fishing guide license. TWRA staff presented three options concerning a possible fishing guide license during its September meeting held in Jackson. At this month’s meeting, the TWRC elected to postpone taking any action at this meeting. However, the guide license will be addressed after a comprehensive review of all user groups in tailwaters and streams.
The 2012 sport fish regulations were approved by the commission. The regulations feature only slight changes from last year concerning size and creel limit at selected locations.
Among the changes for 2012:
- Increase the creel limit on largemouth bass at Gibson County Lake in West Tennessee from 5 to 10 fish per day.
- At Lake LaJoie and Lake Placid at Chickasaw State Park in West Tennessee, replace the current 15-inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass with a 14-18 inch slot limit and a creel limit of 10 fish per day, only 1 of which can be over 18 inches.
- At Ft. Patrick Henry Reservoir in East Tennessee, place an 18-inch minimum size limit on walleye with a creel limit of 5 fish per day.
- Redefine the Boone Reservoir boundary in East Tennessee for fish regulation purposes on the South Fork Holston River Arm from the Highway 11E Bridge to the Highway 37 Bridge at Bluff City.
