Tennessee regulations
Bluegill (Sunfish) Regulations in Tennessee 2026
Tennessee Bluegill regulations as of 2026-05-08: Status Permitted; Status Permitted; Status Permitted. Sourced from TWRA.
Rules (44)
Tennessee statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
no limit statewide
Acon Clay Length Limit.Open
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
BarkleyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
BooneOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Browns Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
CalderwoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No creel or length limit
Calderwood ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No creel or length limit.
Center HillOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
CheathamOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Cordell HullOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Dale HollowOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.)Open
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Garrett LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Great FallsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Guntersville (Tennessee Section Only)Open
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Herb Parsons Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Kentucky LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Lake GrahamOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Lake Halford
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Maples Creek LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Marrowbone LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
creel limit 50, no length limit
Mississippi River And Its Backwaters Within The Boundaries Of The Other State And Any Oxbow Lakes Through Which The Missouri-Tennessee Boundary Passes (Missouri Reciprocal Agreement)
- Daily bag
- 50
NickajackOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
NormandyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Old HickoryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
ParksvilleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Percy PriestOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
PickwickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
South Holston
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
South Holston (Tn + Va Rules)
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
TellicoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Tims FordOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
WataugaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
no length limit
Watts BarOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Whiteville LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
WoodsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
Also known as
Bluegill is also called Bluegill (Sunfish), Pumpkinseed, Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, sunfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Tennessee.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bluegill season in Tennessee?
Bluegill season in Tennessee is set by TWRA. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Bluegill in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Bluegill. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Bluegill in Tennessee?
Daily bag limit for Bluegill in Tennessee is 10 fish/day in Browns Creek Lake, per TWRA.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25TNAB_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25TNAB_LR_2025-08-20-170518_amcm.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/fishing/twra-fishing-lakes-information
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with TWRA before keeping a catch. Last verified .