[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6665110,"mediaKeyId","2364514-f31af8beeaf347103b3575da28599a5a","parentId",2364514,"title","TWRA proposes sport-fish rule changes to curb Alabama bass spread; several reservoirs targeted","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",2041000,"endMs",2245000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364514-f31af8beeaf347103b3575da28599a5a&start=2041&end=2245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364514-f31af8beeaf347103b3575da28599a5a/thumbnail_2041000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6665110/Tennessee/TWRA-proposes-sport-fish-rule-changes-to-curb-Alabama-bass-spread-several-reservoirs-targeted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665110-9d54f187019621508e0a1e7e02231871/orig.mp4?Expires=1773653568&Signature=DjzLeV9MlHspIsrZLvdJs3AFLGU~XMxjQxIjqGmwdiK7Q3UY8vzkTrZCIWex6nB74YwTP5quYWuGCls7AD3lVbKFWcpk~wIjTwy~vUMlQDuhqigFK7goNfAGnPS-W4o~PjGbxsVbYsZpnIF3wPReCZHTlVkz-~PtsjYQuEV5QWNhzvVvPoVvn8kl4g-hQKWLVZUaqa5DFS5JEBUN~~Uzcx4H37i6brPPsvRdnJdnAHqJP1OIO6V2yYRB2-vF3ygLIavWXId1lVOUXynlkDRejDRdUHNlFhZX0nNpyq5XUKXWS7cQf9xpgsBhNtaQO6nPbArweLvtftF~Kxv33dWB9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency","date","2025-02-20T20:41:13.297Z","article","Fisheries staff for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on Feb. 20 presented proposed changes in Sport Fish Proclamation 25‑02 aimed at slowing the spread of nonnative Alabama bass and simplifying black bass regulations on multiple reservoirs. The fisheries committee voted to refer the proposed proclamation to the full commission.

Chief Jason Haniger described Alabama bass as an emerging management challenge in the Tennessee River system and said the species—recognized as a distinct species in 2008—has been introduced into multiple reservoirs and hybridizes with native spotted and smallmouth bass. “If we don't stop the stocking illegal stocking of Alabama bass in our other reservoirs, we will lose smallmouth bass in the state of Tennessee,” Haniger said, citing hybridization and identification challenges.

Key recommended changes in the agency presentation included:

- Parksville Reservoir: apply a combined 5‑fish creel limit with a 15‑inch minimum for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, Alabama bass and hybrids; prohibit live transport of any black bass species away from Parksville to reduce human‑mediated spread.

- Chickamauga, Nickajack and Guntersville reservoirs: combine existing variations into a five‑fish creel limit in combination with a 15‑inch minimum for largemouth and a no‑minimum approach for small hybrids, with at most one fish over 16 inches per day to protect larger quality fish.

- Chilhowee, Fort Loudoun, Tellico, Watts Bar and Pickwick reservoirs: simplify disparate regulations into a statewide black bass 5‑fish creel, 15‑inch minimum limit to ease identification and enforcement.

- Tellico River: move back to the statewide five‑fish combination creel with no minimum length, after agency exploitation studies showed the prior trophy regulation was not being met.

- Marion County (Halford) and Davy Crockett Lake: adjustments to creel and size limits based on population responses and recent stocking programs; Maribone Lake to move to a 10‑fish daily creel with no minimum because the facility is not meeting prior goals.

Haniger said the agency ran a public comment period that drew 61 comments on the black bass proposals; 74% were supportive or neutral while 16 commenters opposed the changes. Overall user satisfaction among respondents averaged about 3.9 on a 1–5 scale, Haniger said.

Fisheries committee members did not raise substantive objections during the presentation. A motion to advance Sport Fish Proclamation 25‑02 out of fisheries to the full commission was made and seconded, and the committee approved the referral by voice vote.

Next steps: TWRA staff will present the final proclamation language and supporting analyses to the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission at its plenary session for final action. The agency said enforcement and angler education will be important if rules that combine species or change creel/length limits are adopted to minimize confusion during identification.

Votes at a glance: Fisheries committee — motion to refer Proclamation 25‑02 to full commission: adopted by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the committee minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TFWC Committee Meeting 022025","oneSentenceSummary","TWRA fisheries staff proposed amendments in Sport Fish Proclamation 25-02 to address the spread of introduced Alabama bass and to simplify or adjust creel and length limits on multiple reservoirs; the fisheries committee voted to refer the proclamation to the full commission.","taxTitle","Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee","taxId",17455,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6665115,"TWRA committee amends paddlefish rules: half 6-inch/half 7-inch nets this year, full 7-inch required by 2026-27",448,607000,1055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364514-f31af8beeaf347103b3575da28599a5a&start=607&end=1055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364514-f31af8beeaf347103b3575da28599a5a/thumbnail_607000.jpg","/articles/6665115/Tennessee/TWRA-committee-amends-paddlefish-rules-half-6-inchhalf-7-inch-nets-this-year-full-7-inch-required-by-2026-27","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665115-138a8a1f4b4dab2c5b2f628456cf3fe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773653568&Signature=ZNj-B83RHJlzS30nw4Ad7u7e4MrA6WUITYubahOeDLrGX2q3qdcvxYKVOekpD-Y5OXXk07h8Jq3sYxS~axrHkOeXFPFMNuKHKoM9P4RNhT7A9jXgWSkIo0Fc6UxHIjkpdhXi66rPIIMXANCGmBBxNDStaP9QO7QPTQDKEQwvvW0n2J6Fsnpbnj0QC0FZlcIZABmnYWwJ8lGAYMhgKzcuVDKUC7-l4TPGSmuec42oIlom~EAFFWpwL5lf7GHAMVMATXEGyrmVLj5FauNRw5XIEF5fC8L9J0JJpI-Fll~hMyDEOkn7UbDMt8l~jXm6jXsAvxlXEVzxn0P9ZTDhlb6gfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission fisheries committee on Feb. 20 amended Commercial Take of Fish and Turtle Proclamation 25-01 to phase in a 7-inch square-mesh requirement for paddlefish nets and to change the Kentucky Lake paddlefish season end date from April 7 to March 31. The committee voted to refer the amended proclamation to the full commission for final action.

Chief Jason Haniger, chief of fisheries for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, told the committee the changes respond to biological and gear-impact data: “We are managing for sustainability of the paddlefish fishery. We went through a downturn. The fishermen's experienced that.” He said the mesh-size increase is intended to reduce bycatch and mortality of sublegal and male paddlefish in what the agency has converted into an all‑female, gravid‑female harvest fishery.

The amended proposal also shortens the Kentucky Lake paddlefish season to close March 31, based on a 10‑year analysis the agency presented showing Kentucky Lake waters typically warm about a week earlier than other waters, which led to nonviable eggs and post‑season mortalities that caviar producers and the Citizen Fish Advisory Committee flagged.

Commissioner Bill Cox moved the amendment to subsection l of Proclamation 25‑01 to allow, for the coming season, that up to half a permitted fisherman’s sets may use 6‑inch mesh while the remaining sets must be 7‑inch, with the regulation becoming all 7‑inch by the 2026–27 season; Commissioner Brad Box seconded the motion. The fisheries committee voice vote passed; commissioners present said “aye” and no opposition was raised, and the committee forwarded the amended proclamation to the full commission for consideration the next day.

Chief Haniger acknowledged the economic impact on commercial netters and described an agency mitigation measure: “We spent about $40,800 in purchasing 7‑inch nets. We expect about 34 permitted anglers to need those nets… It’ll provide them with about a hundred and 5 pounds of netting that will tie out anywhere from 12 to 14 nets depending on how it's tied out.” The agency said the purchase is intended to help permitted anglers transition to the larger mesh.

Commercial fishermen who addressed the committee urged more time and argued the change would be costly. “These nets are not cheap. They run … from anywhere from $300 to $400 a piece,” said Ricky Scott, a commercial fisherman. Scott and other speakers said many permit holders maintain large inventories of 6‑inch nets—some testifying they keep dozens or hundreds of nets in reserve to cover wear, different water conditions and lost or damaged gear. Larry Overstreet and Benson Kinsey, both commercial fishermen, asked for a longer phase‑in period so operators could use existing gear and recover costs.

Colonel Dale Grama, colonel of the Law Enforcement Division, said enforcement officers will apply whatever mesh‑size and seasonal parameters the commission adopts: “That’s what the officers will work. So if it's set at a certain date and then runs out to another date for those mesh sizes, they'll work that however it's set up.”

The committee directed agency staff to make the amendment language change and present the amended proclamation to the full commission the following day. The agency also recorded that it will provide the purchased 7‑inch nets to permit holders identified as needing them and that it will continue monitoring mortality, recruitment and enforcement outcomes.

Votes at a glance: Fisheries committee — motion to amend Proclamation 25‑01 and refer to full commission: adopted by voice vote; no recorded roll‑call tallies were entered in the committee minutes.

Next steps: The full Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the amended Proclamation 25‑01 at its plenary session the following day; Chief Haniger said staff will bring the finalized rule language and implementation details, including distribution of agency‑purchased nets and enforcement guidance.","The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission fisheries committee voted to amend Commercial Take of Fish and Turtle Proclamation 25-01, moving a phased requirement for 7-inch square mesh for paddlefish nets and shortening the Kentucky Lake paddlefish season; the amended item was referred to the full commission.","actionData","errors"]

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TWRA proposes sport-fish rule changes to curb Alabama bass spread; several reservoirs targeted

TWRA committee amends paddlefish rules: half 6-inch/half 7-inch nets this year, full 7-inch required by 2026-27