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Commercial fisherman netting carp

Commercial Fishing

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Commercial Fishing Licenses and Permits

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is charged with maintaining and enhancing fisheries resources within the Commonwealth and bordering waters. As part of this mission, the Department regulates the commercial fishing of various species. Various commercial permits are available.​


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Additional Links

Asian Carp Harvest ProgramCommercial Roe Buyers ListRestricted entanglement fishing gear zones on the Ohio and Mississippi RiversNavigation Information for Commerical Fishing on the Ohio River
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Reporting Forms

Monthly Report of Commerical Fish Harvest in KentuckyMonthly Roe-Bearing Fish Buyer's ReportDaily Roe-Bearing Fish Harvester's Transaction ReportDaily Harvest and Release Summary Card
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Commerical Licenses

Commercial Licenses & FeesCommercial Guide License RequirementsFind a Fishing Guide or Hunting OutfitterCommerical Fishing Licenses & Fees

Hunting & Fishing Regulations​​

All Hunting & Fishing GuidesKentucky Administrative Regulations: ​Chapter 005 - Licensing ​

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Commercial Fishing Licenses & Permits Resident​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​ Application​​​​​​​​​​​​ Regulations​​
​​​​Commercial Fishing License with 10 gear tags.
​$150.00 (Additional Resident Gear Tags can be purchased in blocks of 10 for $15.00.)
​$600.00 (Additional Non-Resident Gear Tags can be purchased in blocks of 10 for $100.00.)​
​​ Application​
​301 KAR 1:155 - Commercial fishing requirements; 
301 KAR 1:150 - Waters open to commercial Fishing;
301 KAR 1:143 - Commercial Fishing Gear​
​​​​​Commercial Fishing License - Invasive Carp ONLY
​​Free​Free​​ 301 KAR 1:155 - Commercial fishing requirements;​
301 KAR 1:152 - Harvest and sale of invasive carp;
301 KAR 1:150 - Waters open to commercial Fishing;
301 KAR 1:143 ​- Commercial Fishing Gear
​​​​Commercial Fishing License - Invasive/Scaled Fish
​$150.00 
​$150.00​
​​Roe-Bearing Fish Buyer Permit (Season Oct. 15 - Jun. 5)
​$500.00
​​$1000.00
 301 KAR 1:155 - Commercial fishing requirements; 
301 KAR 1:150 - Waters open to commercial Fishing;
301 KAR 1:143 - Commercial Fishing Gear​
​​​Roe-Bearing Fish Harvester Permit (Season Oct. 15 - May 31) Applications must be postmarked by Sept. 15th.
​​$500.00
$1,500.00
​​​Special Net Fishery Permit (Season Nov. 1 - Mar. 31. For Kentucky Lake and Barkley ONLY) ​Applications must be postmarked by Nov. 1st.
​$600.00
​$900.00
 301 KAR 1:155 - Commercial fishing requirements; 
301 KAR 1:150 - Waters open to commercial Fishing;
301 KAR 1:143 - Commercial Fishing Gear​;
301 KAR 1:140 - Special Commercial fishing permit for Kentucky and Barkley Lakes
​​​Tier I - Experimental Commerical Fishing Methods Program
​$800.00
​​$1,​600.00
 Application​
TBA
​​Tier II - Experimental Commerical Fishing Methods Program
​$1,200.00
 $2,400.00
​TBA
​​​Ohio River Trophy Catfish Harvest Permit - ​Applications must be postmarked by Mar. 10th.
​​Free
​​Free
​ Application​​
 301 KAR 1:155 - Commercial fishing requirements; 
301 KAR 1:150 - Waters open to commercial Fishing
​​​​​​​​​​​Fish Transport, Propagation & Sale of Live Permits Resident​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​ Application​​​​​​​​ Regulations
​​Fish Transportation Permit (Valid for one (1) year from the date of issue)
​$25.00
$25.00
 Application​
 301 KAR 1:125 - Transportation of fish.
​​​Fisheries Propagation Permit (Season Jan. 1 - Dec. 31)
​$50.00
​​$50.00
 Application​​
 301 KAR 1:115 - Propagation of aquatic Organisms
​​Live Bait & Fish Dealer's License (Season Jan. 1 - Dec. 31)
​$50.00
​​$150.00
​ Application​​
 301 KAR 1:120 - Live fish sales and handling licensure;
301 KAR 1:130 - Live bait for personal use;
301 KAR 1:132 - Sale of live bait;
301 KAR 1:122​ Importation, possession, and prohibited aquatic species
​​​​​​​​​​Commercial Boating Licenses & Permits Resident​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​ Application​​​​​​​ Regulations
​​​​​Boat Dock Permit
 ​Varies by Year
 Application​​
​​​Shoreline Use Permit
​ ​​​​Varies by Year
​ Application​​​
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