Spearfishing Laws in Tennessee: What You Can and Cannot Do Underwater

Tennessee is a landlocked state, but that does not mean spearfishing is off the table. With over 230 fish species spread across rivers, reservoirs, and lakes, the state offers real underwater hunting opportunities — provided you follow a specific and often misunderstood set of rules.

Before you gear up and dive in, you need to understand exactly what the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) permits. Spearfishing laws in Tennessee are more restrictive than many anglers expect, and the wrong move can result in citations, fines, or worse. This guide walks you through every regulation you need to know.

Is Spearfishing Legal in Tennessee

Yes, spearfishing is legal in Tennessee — but it comes with firm conditions attached. Spearfishing is legal for non-game fish, but only while the angler is fully submerged and during daylight hours. That two-part requirement is non-negotiable under TWRA statewide regulations.

What does “fully submerged” mean in practice? You cannot spearfish from the surface, from a boat, or while wading. You must be completely underwater at the time you take a fish. This distinguishes spearfishing from gigging, which is a separate and differently regulated method.

Important Note: Tennessee defines a spear gun as “any device designed to propel a spear through water and is drawn or held by a mechanical device.” This definition shapes which gear is considered a spear gun under state law versus a gigging implement.

States like Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and many others allow spearfishing for non-game species — typically carp, gar, buffalo, and drum. Tennessee fits squarely in this category: it permits the sport, but limits it to non-game fish only. If you are targeting bass, crappie, walleye, or trout, a spear gun is not a legal method in this state.

You should also know that if it’s not explicitly allowed in the regulations, assume it’s forbidden. That principle applies directly to spearfishing — any ambiguity in the rules defaults to prohibition, not permission.

Freshwater vs. Saltwater Spearfishing Rules in Tennessee

Tennessee is entirely landlocked, so there is no saltwater spearfishing to speak of within the state’s borders. All spearfishing activity in Tennessee takes place in freshwater — rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and streams managed by the TWRA.

Data from the TWRA reveals that the state’s freshwater ecosystems are home to over 230 fish species, making Tennessee’s inland waters genuinely diverse for underwater hunters. The Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and their associated reservoir systems — including Norris Lake, Kentucky Lake, and Chickamauga Lake — are among the most popular destinations.

Because all spearfishing occurs in freshwater, the TWRA’s statewide freshwater fishing regulations govern every dive. There are no separate saltwater licensing tiers, saltwater species lists, or ocean-specific gear rules to navigate. What you do need to track carefully are water-body-specific rules, since Tennessee’s statewide creel and size limits set baseline rules, but individual water bodies often impose stricter requirements. Always check the TWRA regulations for the specific lake or river you plan to fish — what’s legal on one reservoir might not be legal on the next.

Pro Tip: Before any dive, look up your specific water body on the TWRA’s official regulations page at tn.gov/twra. Reservoir-level rules can differ significantly from statewide defaults, especially in TVA-managed lakes.

License and Permit Requirements for Spearfishing in Tennessee

A valid fishing license is required to spearfish in Tennessee. In Tennessee, the answer to whether you need a license to spearfish is a resounding yes. The state mandates that individuals must obtain a fishing license to engage in spearfishing.

Tennessee requires most anglers aged 13 and older to carry a valid fishing license issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), with fees starting as low as $10 for resident county-of-residence fishing and $20 for a non-resident three-day permit. The license requirement applies regardless of whether you are using a rod and reel, a spear gun, or any other legal method.

Tennessee’s licensing system is more layered than most states, with separate licenses based on where you fish, whether you target trout, and how long you plan to stay. For most spearfishers targeting non-game species in their home county, the basic resident annual fishing license covers the activity.

License Type	Who It Covers	Notes
Resident County Fishing License	Tennessee residents fishing in home county	Lowest-cost option; does not cover trout
Resident Annual Fishing License	Tennessee residents fishing statewide	Covers all non-game spearfishing statewide
Non-Resident 3-Day Permit	Out-of-state visitors	Short-term option starting at $20
Non-Resident Annual License	Out-of-state anglers	Required for repeated visits

Children under 13 do not need a license. On June 6, 2026, all residents and visitors of any age can fish Tennessee’s public waters without a license. Outside of that free fishing day, everyone 13 and older must carry a valid license on the water.

Beyond the standard fishing license, certain waters require additional permits. Reelfoot Lake requires a special permit. Gatlinburg requires a city fishing permit if you’re fishing within city limits. Tellico-Citico creeks need their own permit. Always verify whether your target water body carries an extra permit requirement before you dive. You can also check out hunting laws in Tennessee for broader context on how the TWRA structures its licensing framework across different outdoor activities.

You can purchase licenses online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, at TWRA regional offices, or through licensed agents across the state.

Legal Species and Prohibited Species for Spearfishing in Tennessee

The species question is where many spearfishers run into trouble. Tennessee draws a hard line between game fish and non-game fish, and only non-game fish may be taken by spear gun.

Legal non-game species you can target with a spear gun include:

• Common carp
• Bighead carp and silver carp (invasive species; removal is actively encouraged)
• Gar (longnose, shortnose, spotted)
• Buffalo (bigmouth and smallmouth)
• Drum (freshwater)
• Suckers (various species)
• Bowfin

Silver carp, bighead carp, and grass carp have invaded waterways across the Midwest and South. Many states actively encourage their removal by any means, including spearfishing. Tennessee is no exception — targeting invasive carp by spear gun is one of the most conservation-positive actions you can take in the state’s waters.

Prohibited game fish that cannot be taken by spear gun include:

• Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, and Alabama bass
• Crappie (black and white)
• Walleye and sauger
• Catfish (channel, blue, flathead)
• Trout (rainbow, brown, brook)
• Striped bass and hybrid striped bass
• Bluegill and other sunfish species

Beyond the game fish prohibition, certain species are completely off-limits regardless of method. Several fish species in Tennessee cannot be harvested under any circumstances. The TWRA identifies three sturgeon species in the state, and none may be kept. Lake sturgeon is listed as threatened in Tennessee after dramatic population declines. Pallid sturgeon is federally endangered and cannot be harvested. Shovelnose sturgeon is now protected because it closely resembles the pallid sturgeon, making misidentification likely.

The snail darter, once at the center of a landmark Endangered Species Act case involving Tellico Dam, is protected under both state and federal law. If you encounter any of these species underwater, do not spear them — surface and release immediately if you make contact.

Common Mistake: Catfish are classified as game fish in Tennessee, which surprises many spearfishers who assume they fall under the non-game category. You cannot legally take catfish by spear gun in this state.

Gear Restrictions for Spearfishing in Tennessee

Tennessee’s TWRA regulations define the equipment categories that apply to underwater fishing, and understanding those definitions matters for staying compliant.

A spear gun is defined as any device designed to propel a spear through water and is drawn or held by a mechanical device. This covers rubber-band-powered spearguns, pneumatic spearguns, and similar devices. Gigging is defined as the taking of fish by means of a hand-held pole or spear with a tip consisting of a single, sharpened point or one or more sharpened barbed points. This includes, but is not limited to, gear known as the Hawaiian sling.

The distinction between a spear gun and a gigging implement matters because each is governed by its own set of location and species rules. For spear-gun fishing specifically, you must be fully submerged — the gigging rules that allow surface-level use do not apply to spear guns.

Additional gear-related rules that apply to spearfishers include:

• Diver-down flag required: Spearfishers are required to display a diver-down flag while in the water, alerting boats and other water users to their presence.
• No firearms or air guns: Shooting with any type of firearm or air gun to injure or take fish or turtles is prohibited.
• No explosives or chemicals: Explosives, chemicals, and electrical shocking devices are strictly forbidden, and their use carries heavy penalties.
• No crossbows: All bowfishing gear must include a retrieval line, and crossbows cannot be used for fishing.
• Daylight hours only: Spearfishing with a spear gun is restricted to daylight hours — no night diving for fish.

For more on how Tennessee regulates related pursuit methods, see the bow hunting laws in Tennessee, which covers the overlapping framework for archery-based harvest methods.

Off-Limits Areas and No-Spearfishing Zones in Tennessee

Even where spearfishing is generally permitted, specific locations are closed to spear-gun fishing either year-round or during certain seasons.

Year-round closures for spear-gun fishing include:

All streams in the following counties are closed year-round to gigging, grabbing, grab hooking, tubbing, archery, spear-gun fishing, and dipping: Bedford, Lawrence, Maury, Giles, Lewis, Wayne, Hickman, and Marshall. If you plan to dive in Middle Tennessee’s smaller stream systems, verify whether your target water falls within one of these counties before entering the water.

Spear-gun fishing is also prohibited within 100 yards below dams, except at Pickwick where the closed area extends downstream to the first moorage cell located across from the boat launching ramp. Dam tailwaters are heavily fished areas, and the proximity restriction keeps spearfishers clear of hazardous current zones and concentrated angler traffic.

Seasonal closures to be aware of:

• The East Fork Obey River and its tributaries are closed January 1 through April 30.
• Spearfishing is prohibited in designated trout streams and certain reservoirs during specific times of the year to protect spawning fish populations.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park waters follow federal guidelines and are subject to their own access and method restrictions separate from TWRA rules.

Key Insight: The TWRA’s water-body-specific regulation guide lists closures by lake and river. Before any dive trip, cross-reference your destination against the current TWRA proclamation — closures are updated annually and can change between seasons.

National Park waters, federally managed reservoirs, and waters on private land also carry their own access rules. If you fish on private property, you must obtain permission from the owner. That same requirement applies to spearfishing — entering private water without permission exposes you to trespass liability on top of any fishing violation.

Bag Limits and Size Limits for Spearfishing in Tennessee

Tennessee does not publish a separate bag limit schedule specifically for spearfishing. Instead, spearfishers are held to the same statewide creel and size limits that apply to all legal harvest methods for the same species.

For the non-game species most commonly targeted by spearfishers, the rules are relatively open. Carp, gar, buffalo, and drum generally have no statewide daily bag limit or minimum size restriction — but you should verify this for the specific water body you are diving, since reservoir-level rules can differ.

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. This means a non-game species with no statewide limit could still carry a site-specific restriction on a particular reservoir or river stretch.

For reference, here are the statewide limits on some commonly encountered game fish that you cannot spear but may need to release if accidentally contacted:

Species	Statewide Daily Bag Limit	Minimum Length
Black Bass (all species combined)	5 fish	15 inches (varies by water)
Crappie (all species)	20 fish	No statewide minimum
Walleye / Sauger	10 fish combined	15 inches
Striped Bass / Hybrid	2 fish combined	15 inches
Trout (stocked streams)	7 fish	No statewide minimum

One rule that applies universally: under no circumstance shall live fish, crayfish, or salamanders be intentionally released or stocked into Tennessee waters away from the waters from which they were harvested. If you surface with a fish you do not intend to keep, you must release it back into the same body of water — not transport it elsewhere.

Also note that it is illegal to take any fish, crayfish, salamander, or turtle that is listed as endangered, threatened, or in need of management. This applies even if the contact was accidental — if you spear a protected species, you are responsible for that take.

Penalties for Spearfishing Violations in Tennessee

Tennessee takes fishing violations seriously, and spearfishing-related offenses are no exception. Penalties for violations range from small fines for license infractions to jail time for destructive methods like electrofishing.

The most common violations spearfishers face — and their consequences — include:

• Spearfishing without a license: A citation that can be dismissed if you provide proof of a valid license before your court date. Fishing without a license is an example of a TWRA violation that does not require a court appearance — if you provide the clerk proof of a valid fishing license before your court date, your citation will be dismissed.
• Taking game fish by spear gun: A more serious violation that does require a court appearance and carries fines and potential license suspension.
• Spearfishing in a closed area or during prohibited hours: Treated as a willful violation, which increases the severity of the penalty.
• Taking a protected, threatened, or endangered species: You cannot keep any fish, crayfish, salamander, or turtle listed as endangered, threatened, or in need of management. Tennessee protects certain species strictly. Violating this carries serious penalties.

Tennessee legislation has increased the maximum fine from $50 to no more than $500 for violations of any arrestable offense regarding wildlife resources. More serious offenses — such as using prohibited methods or taking protected species — can escalate to misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the circumstances.

Important Note: TWRA officers have broad enforcement authority. They can inspect your license, examine your catch, and verify your equipment at any time. It is the duty of every person participating in the privileges of taking or possessing wildlife to permit agency officers to ascertain whether the requirements are being faithfully complied with, including the possession of a proper license. It is a violation of law to refuse such inspection or to interfere with an officer attempting such inspection.

If you witness a spearfishing violation or any fishing law being broken, the TWRA has a Wildlife Violation Hotline. You can call 1-800-831-1174 to report fishing violations. Reports can be made anonymously.

Staying compliant is straightforward once you understand the framework: carry your license, target only non-game species, stay submerged during daylight, respect closed zones, and display your diver-down flag. For related Tennessee wildlife and animal laws, you may also find these resources helpful: wildlife removal laws in Tennessee and animal cruelty laws in Tennessee.