The Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP) allows anglers to have
their trophy fish recognized
by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Anglers of any age, who catch
qualifying fish species
that meet or exceed the qualifying lengths may apply. The TWRA Fisheries Management
Division sends those
accomplished anglers certificates featuring color reproductions of fish artwork by
renowned wildlife
artist Joseph R. Tomelleri.
The program is designed to acknowledge anglers for outstanding
sportfishing accomplishments,
encourage catch-and-release of trophy size fish, and provide the TWRA with information
on large fish
caught throughout the state.
TARP should not be confused with the State Record Fish program that
recognizes anglers who catch a new state
record fish (largest fish recorded for that species in the state.) Instead, TARP
recognizes anglers who catch
trophy-size fish that are not necessarily state records.
Trophy Fish/Master Angler Certificates
TARP features four levels of angler recognition. Anglers catching a fish
that meets or exceeds the minimum
"trophy" length requirements, listed in the table below, will recieve a
Trophy Fish Certificate (click for example) . These certificates
feature Joeseph R. Tomelleri artwork representing the species caught by the applicant
and are suitable for framing.
After anglers catch five trophy size fish in any combination, a Master
Angler level I certificate and patch will be awarded at no cost to the angler. Anglers
submitting five trophy size
fish of different species recieve a Master Angler level II certificate and patch.
The newest Master Angler III recognition is awarded to anglers
submitting ten different trophy species.
In addition to a certificate and patch, the angler will receive a "tackle package"
courtesy of Bass Pro Shops-Sevierville,
Tennessee.
How Do You Qualify?
The fish must be caught after January 1, 2003
The fish must meet or exceed the minimum lengths listed below
Persons 13 years of age or older must be licensed anglers and must provide their
license
number (TWRA#) on the application.
The fish must be caught legally (in accordance with Tennessee Sportfishing
Regulations) in Tennessee waters,
by sportfishing methods only (rod and reel or cane pole).
The length of the fish must be verified by either a witness or a photograph. The
witness must complete
the section on the application and/or the photo must be of the fish lying flat on
top of or beside a
flat measuring rule or tape and included with the application. Note that photographs
of the angler holding their
catch may be used in TWRA publications, including the Agency's website.
If you believe your catch exceeds the current state record for that
species, you should immediately
contact a TWRA Fisheries Biologist for positive identification of the fish and the
appropriate application. Click here for more
information.
How Do You Apply
An application form may be obtained by clicking this link
(Adobe Acrobat Reader required) or by contacting the TWRA Fisheries
Management Division at (615) 781-6575. Complete one application for each fish you are
registering. You may
include more than one application form per envelope. If the fish length is being
verified by photo, the picture
must be enclosed with the application. For the Trophy Fish Certificate(s) only, a $5.00
processing fee, per
application, must also be enclosed and mailed within 60 days from the date of catch.
Make check or money order
payable to TWRA and mail, with the application(s), to the address at the bottom of the
application. The processing
fee is non-refundable for non-qualifying applications.
Minimum Trophy Fish Lengths
Species
Length (inches)
Largemouth Bass
22
Spotted Bass
18
Smallmouth Bass
20
Striped Bass
40
Cherokee Bass (Hybrid)
30
White Bass
18
Crappie (Black or White)
14
Bluegill
10
Redear Sunfish
11
Rock Bass
10
Sauger
20
Walleye
28
Muskellunge
40
Brook Trout
10
Brown Trout
26
Rainbow Trout
24
Lake Trout
28
Channel Catfish
30
Blue Catfish
34
Flathead Catfish
34
Common Carp
34
Freshwater Drum
28
Measuring Your Fish
Lay the fish flat on the top of, or beside, a measuring rule or tape. Do
not lay the rule over the
curvature of the fish's body. Close the fish's mouth and squeeze the tail lobes
together. Measure from
the tip of the snout to the end of the tail to the nearest 1/4 inch.
Summary of Tennessee's Angler Recognition Program Entries