Tennessee fishing seasons

55 species profiles in our database list Tennessee waters among their fisheries — including White Bass, Sauger, Bigmouth Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Tennessee

Months when the largest share of Tennessee's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Tennessee fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Tennessee

Species	Season
American Paddlefish	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Bullhead	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blacknose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Catfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Brook Silverside	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Brook Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Brown Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Butter Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Central Stoneroller	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Creek Chub	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Emerald Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Fantail Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Freshwater Drum	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Gizzard Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greenside Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Jau Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Marble Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
Mooneye	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Quillback	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Redbreast Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rosyface Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Sauger	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Skipjack Herring	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Snail Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Stonecat	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Tadpole Madtom	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Threadfin Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Vundu Catfish	Varies by region and regulation
White Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Catfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Yellow Bullhead	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Yellowfin Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

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