Tennessee Angler Recognition Program
The Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP) gives anglers an opportunity to have their trophy fish recognized by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Anglers of any age, who catch any of the qualifying fish species and lengths may apply. See the "Qualifying Species and Length Chart".
The TWRA Fisheries Management Division sends those accomplished anglers certificates featuring color reproductions of fish artwork by renowned wildlife artist Joseph R. Tomelleri. You can view and purchase Tomelleri's artwork by visiting his website at http://www.americanfishes.com/
The program is designed to acknowledge anglers for outstanding sport fishing 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 Tennessee State Record Fish program that recognizes anglers who catch a new Tennessee State Record Fish (largest fish recorded, by weight, for that species in the state.) Instead, TARP recognizes anglers who catch trophy-size fish, by length, that are not necessarily state records. 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.
TARP features six levels of angler recognition!
- Trophy Fish Certificate: Anglers submitting one (1) of any of the 27 qualifying fish species, that meets or exceeds the minimum "trophy" length requirements (see chart below), receive a Trophy Fish Certificate, depicting the species. *$5.00 processing fee.
- Master Angler I: Anglers submitting five (5) trophy-size fish species, in any combination, receive a Master Angler Level I certificate and patch at no cost.
- Master Angler level II: Anglers submitting five (5) different trophy-size fish, receive a Master Angler level II certificate and patch at no cost.
- Master Angler III: Anglers submitting ten (10) different trophy-size fish, receive a Master Angler III level certificate, patch, at no cost. In addition anglers will receive a gift card courtesy of Bass Pro Shops Kodak, Tennessee.
- Master Angler IV: Anglers submitting fifteen (15) different trophy-size fish, receive a Master Angler IV certificate, patch, and a trophy at no cost.
- Master Angler V: Anglers submitting twenty (20) different trophy-size fish, receive a Master Angler V certificate, patch, and engraved plaque at no cost..
See Certificate and Patch Examples below
How Do You Qualify?
- The fish must meet or exceed the minimum lengths listed in the table on this page (Qualifying Species and Length)
- 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. Photographs of the angler holding their catch may be used in TWRA publications, including the Agency's website. Note that a picture of the fish may be requested/required for any submitted application at the discretion of TWRA.
How Do You Apply
- A Trophy Fish Application can be downloaded here or by contacting the TWRA Fisheries Management Division at 1-615-781-6575.
- Complete one (1) application for each fish you are registering. You may include more than one (1) application form per envelope.
- If the fish length is being verified by photo, the picture must be enclosed with the application.
- Application(s) must be mailed within 90 days from the date of catch.
- For each Trophy Fish application, a $5.00 processing fee, must be enclosed with the application(s), make check(s) or money order(s) payable to TWRA, and mail, with the application(s), to the address on the application. The processing fee is non-refundable for non-qualifying applications.
| Species | Minimum Length (inches) |
| Largemouth Bass | 22 |
| Spotted Bass | 18 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 20 |
| Striped Bass | 40 |
| Cherokee Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass) | 28 |
| White Bass | 18 |
| Yellow Bass | 11 |
| Crappie (Black or White) | 14 |
| Bluegill | 10 |
| Redear Sunfish | 11 |
| Rock Bass | 10 |
| Sauger | 20 |
| Walleye | 28 |
| Yellow Perch | 11 |
| Muskellunge | 40 |
| Brook Trout | 10 |
| Brown Trout | 26 |
| Rainbow Trout | 24 |
| Lake Trout | 28 |
| Channel Catfish | 28 |
| Blue Catfish | 36 |
| Flathead Catfish | 36 |
| Common Carp | 34 |
| Freshwater Drum | 28 |
| Bowfin | 26 |
| Longnose Gar | 45 |
| SPECIES | QUALIFYING LENGTH (inches) | TOTAL SUBMITTED | LARGEST (inches) | WATERBODY | COUNTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK CRAPPIE | 14 | 589 | 19.75 | MELTON HILL | KNOX |
| BLUE CATFISH | 36 | 939 | 61.00 | NICKAJACK | MARION |
| BLUEGILL | 10 | 262 | 14.25 | CENTER HILL | DeKALB |
| BOWFIN | 26 | 6 | 30.00 | W.C. JOHNSON PARK LAKE | SHELBY |
| BROOK TROUT | 10 | 502 | 19.00 | OBEY RIVER | CLAY |
| BROWN TROUT | 26 | 207 | 35.00 | S. F. HOLSTON RIVER | SULLIVAN |
| CHANNEL CATFISH | 28 | 132 | 44.25 | BARKLEY RESERVIOR | STEWART |
| CHEROKEE BASS | 28 | 116 | 38.75 | FT. LOUDOUN RESERVOIR | BLOUNT |
| COMMON CARP | 34 | 154 | 51.25 | PRIVATE LAKE | WASHINGTON |
| FLATHEAD CATFISH | 36 | 322 | 60.00 | BARKLEY RESERVIOR | MONTGOMERY |
| FRESHWATER DRUM | 28 | 268 | 39.00 | GUNTERSVILLE | MARION |
| 39.00 | NICKAJACK | HAMILTON | |||
| 39.00 | NORRIS | CAMPBELL | |||
| LAKE TROUT | 28 | 51 | 34.75 | WATAUGA LAKE | CARTER |
| LARGEMOUTH BASS | 22 | 772 | 29.00 | PRIVATE LAKE | HAYWOOD |
| 29.00 | LAKE SHERWOOD | CUMBERLAND | |||
| 29.00 | PARKSVILLE LAKE | POLK | |||
| LONGNOSE GAR | 45 | 26 | 59.50 | NICKAJACK RESERVOIR | HAMILTON |
| MUSKELLUNGE | 40 | 117 | 53.40 | MELTON HILL | ANDERSON |
| RAINBOW TROUT | 24 | 127 | 34.50 | WATAUGA RIVER | CARTER |
| REDEAR SUNFISH | 11 | 476 | 14.50 | CENTER HILL | DeKALB |
| 14.50 | OCOEE LAKE | POLK | |||
| ROCK BASS | 10 | 288 | 14.50 | DUCK RIVER | BEDFORD |
| SAUGER | 20 | 68 | 24.50 | PARKSVILLE RESERVOIR | POLK |
| SMALLMOUTH BASS | 20 | 1443 | 28.00 | CHEROKEE | JEFFERSON |
| SPOTTED BASS | 18 | 164 | 23.25 | PARKSVILLE | POLK |
| STRIPED BASS | 40 | 412 | 51.00 | CANEY FORK RIVER | SMITH |
| WALLEYE | 28 | 80 | 34.00 | CORDELL HULL | JACKSON |
| WHITE BASS | 18 | 70 | 24.00 | MISSISSIPPI RIVER | SHELBY |
| WHITE CRAPPIE | 14 | 954 | 18.75 | CHICKAMAUGA | HAMILTON |
| YELLLOW BASS | 11 | 62 | 15.00 | KENTUCKY RESERVIOR | HARDIN |
| YELLOW PERCH | 11 | 233 | 16.00 (3) | CHILHOWEE LAKE | BLOUNT/MONROE |
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Anglers submitting five (5) fish species in any combination.
Master Angler I certificate
Master Angler I patch
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Master Angler II
Anglers submitting five (5) different fish species
Master Angler II certificate
Master Angler II patch
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Master Angler III
The Master Angler III level will be awarded to anglers submitting ten different trophy species.
Master Angler III certificate
Master Angler III patch
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Master Angler IV
The Master Angler IV certificate will be awarded to anglers submitting fifteen different trophy species.
Master Angler IV certificate
Master Angler IV patch
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Master Angler V
Master Angler V is forthcoming and will be awarded to anglers submitting twenty different trophy fish, and will receive a certificate, patch, and engraved plaque.
Downloadable TARP List
Awarded Certificates
Master Angler I Master Angler II Master Angler III Master Angler IV Master Angler V
Attention Anglers, Do NOT Move Bass!
The movement and illegal stocking of Alabama Bass outside their native range has caused serious issues for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass fisheries across the southeast. It has been well documented that Alabama Bass prey on, hybridize with, and out compete other bass species for habitat and food resources. High hybridization rates between species will eventually result in a population without any genetically pure Smallmouth Bass. Once this occurs it can never be reversed and results in the loss of those species and the decline in the quality of that fishery.
Alabama Bass and their hybrids have been found in numerous Tennessee reservoirs. TWRA has documented the displacement of Largemouth Bass in Parksville Reservoir, one of the first sites Alabama Bass were documented outside their range in Tennessee, and hybridization with Smallmouth Bass has been documented in Watts Bar, Ft. Loudoun, and Tellico reservoirs. By all accounts, if Alabama Bass are introduced into Tennessee’s best bass fisheries, we stand to lose bass fishing as we know it. Do Not Move Alabama Bass!
In order to be successful at stopping the spread of Alabama Bass, the responsibility lies among those who transport live fish away from the water where they are caught. In most instances, those fish are used as food, but in some cases might be released into other water bodies. Always remember that it is illegal to intentionally release live fish into any public water in Tennessee away from which they were harvested.
Alabama Bass are very difficult to distinguish from Spotted Bass; observations of illegal stocking should be reported to your local TWRA Regional Office (listed below).
West Tennessee (Region 1)
200 Lowell Thomas Dr.
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 423-5725
Middle Tennessee (Region 2)
Ellington Agricultural Center
5107 Edmondson Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 781-6622
Cumberland Plateau (Region 3)
464 Industrial Blvd.
Crossville, TN 38555
(931) 484-9571
East Tennessee (Region 4)
3030 Wildlife Way
Morristown, TN 37814
(423) 587-7037