Bait Dealer

(1) Before engaging in the business of a bait dealer, a person, firm, or corporation must purchase a Fish Dealer’s License. In addition, any person assisting in the capture of bait fish and other aquatic life approved for sale must possess a Fish Dealer’s License. A separate license is required for each bait dealer location where bait is sold. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FISH FARMING, CHAPTER 1660-01-26 CATCH-OUT OPERATIONS, AND BAIT DEALERS (2) The following species are approved for sale as live or dead bait: (a) Common Name Scientific Name Skipjack Herring Alosa chrysochloris Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense Goldfish Carassius auratus Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Sunfish Lepomis spp. and their hybrids Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (b) Sunfish (Bream) 4” in length or smaller may be sold for bait; (3) The following species are approved for sale as dead bait: (a) Common Name Scientific Name Brook Silverside Labidethes sicculus Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (b) Any fish species that is not native to Tennessee and is imported in a preserved state (e.g. frozen, salted, pickled or dried). (4) Approved species may be imported by licensed bait dealers into Tennessee or exported from Tennessee as live or dead bait; (5) Licensed bait dealers can harvest and sell approved species as live or dead bait in Tennessee; (6) Whenever a licensed bait dealer sells, donates, delivers or otherwise disposes of Rainbow Trout, alive or dressed, the dealer shall immediately issue to the person receiving Rainbow Trout an invoice that includes: (a) A signature by the licensee or his/her agent; (b) Consecutive numbers; (c) The name, license number, and location of the bait dealer; (d) The date of sale or delivery date; (e) The species and number of fish sold; and (f) The name and address of the person receiving the fish. (7) All invoices issued by a bait dealer must be consecutively numbered. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FISH FARMING, CHAPTER 1660-01-26 CATCH-OUT OPERATIONS, AND BAIT DEALERS (8) A licensed bait dealer shall retain a copy of the invoice for a period of one year after issuance and make the copy available for an inspection by any representative of the TWRA. (9) Any person transporting or possessing Rainbow Trout obtained from a licensed bait dealer for bait must have a copy of the invoice on their person. (10) Bait dealers cannot harvest Sunfish (Bream) or Rainbow Trout from public waters for sale as bait. (11) Amphibians and crayfish may not be sold as bait.