Salamanders As Fishing Bait in the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province of East Tennessee (Report‪)‬

ABSTRACT--Knowledge of the uses made of salamanders by humans is important for conservation and management purposes. This investigation, conducted primarily within the Blue Ridge Mountain counties of Tennessee, reports on the use and selling of salamanders as fishing bait from May 2002 to June 2003. One of 75 bait, tackle, and marina businesses surveyed sold live salamanders. Selling prices ranged from $4.00-$7.00 per dozen. Lack of reliable suppliers, concern for endangered species, and the uncertainty about the legality of selling salamanders were given as reasons for businesses not selling salamanders. Of 321 fishermen surveyed, 6.5% reported using salamanders as bait during the time frame of this investigation. Most fishermen who used salamanders caught rather than purchased them. **********