WELCOME TO THE

FRESHWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERY

WEBPAGE

The use of certain fishing gear and/or the selling of nongame gross fish are activities regulated  under the authority of commercial fishing regulations.

Non-Game Gross Fish (link to list)

The category of fishes listed as non-game gross fish are a valuable resource, supplying protein, income and enjoyment. These fish are sometimes referred to as rough fish. They consist of catfishes, buffalo fishes, paddlefish (spoonbill catfish), carp, shad, gar, drum, and several species of minnows. Non-game gross fish can be sold by persons having a commercial fishing license.

Fishing Gear (link to list)

Non-game gross fish can be harvested using traditional sport fishing gear, but they can also be caught using  commercial fishing gear, such as, gill nets, trammel nets, hoop nets, slat boxes, trotlines, and seines. A person must have a commercial fishing license to fish commercial fishing gear. Although a trotline can be fished on a sport license, a commercial license is needed when fishing more than 100 hooks in aggregate or to sell fish.

Licenses

A commercial fishing license is needed to:

Sell nongame gross fish and non-native fish

Fish commercial fishing gear

Harvest minnows from public waters

Sell minnows at whole sale

Harvest common snapping turtles (with special harvest permit)

Raising non-game wildlife in captivity

Cost: $30 resident, $200 non-resident.,

 gear tag $3; special permits required for paddlefish harvest;

 slat box license (needed for each box) $30

Commercial fishing licenses are sold at any MDWFP District Office; at any State Park; and the MDWFP Office in Jackson. Commercial fishing licenses can also be purchased by mail. 

 Mail Application for Commercial Fishing License