In Tennessee, an Annual Hunting & Fishing Combination license costs $33. If you plan on fishing in Tennessee for many years, consider a Lifetime Sportsman license for $165 – $1,976 (depending on your age). On the other hand, infrequent tourists can get a Three-Day Fishing license for $20–$40.
Types of Tennessee fishing licenses:
- Short-term fishing licenses
- Annual fishing licenses
- Lifetime fishing licenses
- Special permits
- Licence packages
After you find the best TN fishing license for you, you can purchase it at gooutdoorstennessee.com.
Short term fishing licenses in Tennessee
If you don’t fish often or are only in TN for a few days a year, consider a short-term fishing license:
- TN residents
- Non-resident licenses
One-day fishing licenses – TN Residents
If you are a TN resident, you can get the daily fishing licenses in the table below.
| One-day Fishing (no trout) | $6 |
| One-day Fishing (all species) | $11 |
Short-term fishing licenses – Non-residents
The following fishing licenses are for non-residents.
| Three-day Fishing (no trout) | $20 |
| Three-day Fishing (all species) | $40 |
| Ten-day Fishing (no trout) | $30 |
| Ten-day Fishing (all species) | $61 |
Annual fishing licenses in Tennessee
Consider an annual fishing license if you live in Tennessee or frequently visit the hilly haven of tranquility:
- TN residents
- Non-resident licenses
Annual fishing licenses – TN Residents
Are you hooked on fishing in Tennesse’s rivers and streams? As a Tennessee resident, you can enjoy year-round fishing with a fishing license in the table below.
| Annual Hunting & Fishing Combination | $33 |
| Annual Trout | $22 |
| Annual Sportsman | $165 |
| Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap | $4 |
| Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman | $49 |
| Agency Lake – Annual Permit | $6 |
Trout vs. no trout
If you aren’t fishing for trout, you can pay $33 to fish year-round in Tennessee. However, Tennessee residents who fish for trout year-round will need an Annual Hunting & Fishing Combination and an Annual Trout license, totaling $55 a year in annual fishing licenses.
Sportsman license
Serious outdoors people may want a Tenneessee Annual Sportsman license. Sportsman licenses cover outdoor umbrella activities, including
- Sport fishing
- Hunting
- Trapping
Sportsman licenses require NO supplemental or non-quota permits and cost $165 per year.
Senior fishing licenses
You must be 65 years or older with a valid Tennessee driver’s license or other accepted proof of identification and residency. The senior sportsman license requires no supplemental or non-quota permits.
Annual fishing licenses – Non-residents
If you don’t live in TN but fish in Tennessee more than 10 days a year, consider an annual fishing pass.
| Annual Fishing (no trout) | $49 |
| Annual Fishing (all species) | $98 |
Lifetime Sportsman licenses in Tennessee
If you want to enjoy a lifetime of Tennessee fishing and hunting, consider purchasing a Lifetime Sportsman license. And, if you plan on raising your children to fish and hunt, the best time to buy their lifetime licenses is when they are under three years old.
Please see Lifetime Sportsman License prices by age in the table below.
| Age (years) | Cost of a Lifetime Sportsman License |
| Under 3 | $320 |
| 3 – 6 | $659 |
| 7-12 | $988 |
| 13 – 50 | $1,976 |
| 51 – 64 | $1,153.00 |
| 65+ | $329 |
Special fishing permits
Once you have the applicable TN fishing licenses, you may also purchase the permits in the table below.
| Permit | Cost | Requirements |
| (097) Gatlinburg 1-Day Trout | $11 | Residents and non-residents 13 years and older |
| (099) Gatlinburg Trout – Daily | $3 | Non-residents must also purchase a 097 license. Residents need a valid fishing license. |
| (096) Gatlinburg 3-Day | $9 | 13 – 64 years old, Non-residents need a 097 license, Residents need a valid fishing license |
| (098) Tellico-Citico Trout – Daily | $6 | Fisher of all ages use this license to fish trout in the Tellico river year-round. |
| (191) Agency Lake – Daily | $6 | If you are 16-54 you need this permit to fish the Agency Lake |
| (065) Bedford Lake – Daily | $6 | Needed to fish in Bedford lake |
Fishing license packages
Tennessee fishermen may want the following license packages:
- The Avid Angler Package costs $59, including all the licensing you need to fish all species in the TN waters. Locations that need a special permit are not included.
- The Sportsman Package costs $170 and includes licenses to fish and hunt on private poetry and lands that TWRA manages.
- Teens 13 – 15 may qualify for a free fishing license.