Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposes fishing regulation changes

​​NOTE: The following is a summary of action taken by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its quarterly meeting on April 22, 2022. Official meeting minutes will be reviewed at a future meeting. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources provides this summary to enhance the public's awareness about potential changes to hunting, fishing, boating or other related regulations.

 
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 27, 2022) — Modifications on regulations concerning gigging and snagging, bow fishing and hand grabbing were among the recommendations made by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its quarterly meeting held April 22.

The virtual meeting was livestreamed on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' YouTube channel, where a replay of the meeting is available on demand.

The Commission is a nine-member volunteer board representative of the anglers, hunters and other fish and wildlife-related recreationists of the Commonwealth. The board recommends hunting, fishing and boating regulations. Any recommendations must receive legislative approval before they become law.

Changes proposed by the Commission include:

General regulations for non-traditional methods

• Statewide daily harvest limit of two paddlefish using any non-traditional fishing method.
• Statewide daily harvest limit of two shovelnose sturgeon using any non-traditional fishing method.
• Anglers may only harvest shovelnose sturgeon in the Ohio River basin.
• No harvest of pallid sturgeon statewide (catch and release only).
• No daily harvest limit for invasive carp taken by non-traditional fishing methods.
  

Gigging and Snagging

• Anglers must cease snagging when they reach the daily limit for shovelnose sturgeon in the Tennessee River below Kentucky Lake Dam.
• Snagging is prohibited from the fishing piers and jetties on the Tennessee River below Kentucky Lake Dam downstream to the confluence with the Ohio River.
• Gigging and snagging prohibited in the Cumberland River from Lake Barkley Dam downstream to the U.S. 62 bridge.
• Remove the daily harvest limit of eight rough fish and the requirement to keep them.
  

Bowfishing

• Add shovelnose sturgeon to list of fish species that must be harvested if shot.
  

Hand Grabbing

• Add Carr Creek Lake to the list of lakes where only one blue or channel catfish more than 25 inches may be harvested per angler per day.​​
  

The Commission also accepted the transfer to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife of about 16 acres of land for public fishing access downstream of Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Barren River (also known as Greencastle Lock and Dam) after the removal of the lock and dam complex. The dam is slated for removal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This transfer will provide approximately 1,300 feet of new public bank fishing access.

In hunter education-related business, the Commission recommended removing the requirement that hunters with a valid hunter education certification card carry a physical card while in the field. Kentucky hunting licenses now display hunter education status. A hunter may also use an electronic documentation with proof of identity at age 16 to verify hunter education certification.

The Commission also proposed that current and former members of the U. S. Armed Forces as well as active certified peace officers will be exempted from the live-fire range component of hunter education.

The next quarterly meeting of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled for June 3, 2022. An agenda will be posted at fw.ky.gov when available.​