1. (1) Before engaging in the business of a catch-out operation, a person, firm, or corporation must purchase a Fish Dealer’s License. A separate license is required for each catch-out operation.

2. (2) The following species are approved for use in catch-out operations:

   1. (a) Common Name Scientific Name Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Brown Trout Salmo trutta CATCH-OUT OPERATIONS, AND BAIT DEALERS Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
   2. (b) Triploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) certified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
   3. (c) Species of fish and aquatic life other than those listed may be used in a catch-out operation with written approval of the Executive Director of the TWRA.
3. (3) Catch-out facilities must be constructed to prevent the movement of fish into or out of the facility.
4. (4) Fish used in catch-out operations must be reared fish or must be wild fish obtained by commercial fishers.
5. (5) Live catfish 34 inches or longer harvested from the wild may not be imported for use in the facility.

6. (6) Whenever the owner or operator of any catch-out operation sells, donates, delivers, or otherwise disposes of any fish, alive or dressed, the owner or operator shall immediately issue to the person receiving such fish an invoice that includes:

   1. (a) The signature of the licensee or his/her agent;
   2. (b) The name, license number, and location of the catch-out operation;
   3. (c) The date of sale or delivery;
   4. (d) The species and number of fish delivered; and
   5. (e) The name and address of the person receiving the fish.
7. (7) All invoices issued by a catch-out operation must be consecutively numbered.
8. (8) The owner or operator of the catch-out operation shall retain a copy of the invoice and make the copy available for an inspection by any representative of the TWRA.
9. (9) Any person transporting or possessing fish obtained from a catch-out operation must have a copy of the invoice on their person.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 70-1-206, 70-2-221, 70-4-107, and 70-4-201. Administrative History: Original rule filed March 30, 1994; effective June 13, 1994. Rule was previously numbered 1660-01-26-.03 but was renumbered 1660-01-26-.04 with the introduction of a new rule 1660-01-26-.02. Amendments filed November 18, 2019; effective February 16, 2020. Amendments filed July 2, 2025; effective September 30, 2025.