The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will set the 2012 sport fish regulations among business during its Oct. 13-14 (Thursday-Friday) meeting at to be held at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Ray Bell Region II Building in Nashville.
The TWRC was presented the 2012 sport fish proposals at its August and September meetings by the TWRA.
In addition to establishing next year’s fishing regulations, the TWRC will consider options concerning a possible fishing guide license that were presented during the September meeting held in Jackson.
Frank Fiss, assistant chief of TWRA Fisheries, presented options for a fishing guide license for the commission’s and public’s consideration. The fishing guide license options presented were 1) no change to existing rules or no guide license required; 2) fishing guide license required ($200 for residents, $1,000 for non-residents); and 3) fishing guide license required (the same fee of $200 for residents, $1,000 for non-residents) and guides would need to meet qualifying criteria. Those criteria included for discussion were proof of insurance, background check, first aid/CPR training, and boating safety training. Discussion at the September meeting was centered around the guide license for designated tailwater fisheries.
TWRA staff has reviewed the recommendations from the Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee. The volunteer committee is entirely comprised of nine members of the commercial fishing community and was recently established by the Tennessee General Assembly. Responses to those recommendations will be presented to the TWRC.
In other agenda items, in an effort to create uniform regulations in areas where wild hogs have been established, the agency is presenting a proclamation. The proclamation recommends the incidental taking of wild hogs during the scheduled deer season on Alpine Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Skinner Mountain WMA, and Standing Stone State Forest.
A proclamation will be voted on to establish the McGlothin Largen WMA. Gerald Largen has donated approximately 112 acres to TWRA and the state of Tennessee and the WMA name is a combination of the family names of his parents. The McGlothins and Largens have owned the property for almost 50 years. The property is located in Roane County along the main channel of the Tennessee River downstream from Kingston.
TWRA staff will present information about a recent public meeting in Kingsport and on written comments received about duck hunting near residences in the Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir area.
Committee meetings will begin at 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 and the formal TWRA meeting will start at 9 a.m. on Oct. 14. The public is invited to attend.