Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP)

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.

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 (the 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. 

How TARP Works

TARP features six levels of angler recognition!

  1. Trophy Fish Certificate: Anglers submitting one (1) of any of the 27 qualifying fish species that meet or exceed the minimum "trophy" length requirements receive a Trophy Fish Certificate, depicting the species.  *$5.00 processing fee.
  2. Master Angler I: Anglers submitting five (5) trophy-size fish species, in any combination, receive a Master Angler I certificate and patch at no cost.  
  3. Master Angler II: Anglers submitting five (5) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler II certificate and patch at no cost. 
  4. Master Angler III: Anglers submitting ten (10) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler III certificate and patch at no cost.  In addition, anglers will receive a gift card courtesy of Bass Pro Shops and Kodak, both of Tennessee.
  5.  Master Angler IV: Anglers submitting fifteen (15) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler IV certificate, patch, and a trophy at no cost.
  6. Master Angler V: Anglers submitting twenty (20) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler V certificate, patch, and engraved plaque at no cost.

Qualifying  Species and Minimum Length 

SpeciesMinimum Length (inches)
Largemouth Bass22
Spotted Bass18
Smallmouth Bass20
Striped Bass40
Cherokee Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass)28
White Bass18
Yellow Bass  11
Crappie (Black or White)14
Bluegill10
Redear Sunfish11
Rock Bass10
Sauger20
Walleye28
Yellow Perch11
Muskellunge40
Brook Trout10
Brown Trout26
Rainbow Trout24
Lake Trout28
Channel Catfish28
Blue Catfish36
Flathead Catfish36
Common Carp34
Freshwater Drum28
Bowfin 26
Longnose Gar  45

TARP Certificates & Patches

Trophy Fish Certificate: Anglers submitting one (1) of any of the 27 qualifying fish species that meet or exceed the minimum "trophy" length requirements receive a Trophy Fish Certificate, depicting the species.  *$5.00 processing fee.

Master Angler I

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 I certificate

Master Angler I patch  

Master Angler II

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 II certificate 

Master Angler II patch

Master Angler III

Master Angler III: Anglers submitting ten (10) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler III level certificate and patch at no cost.  In addition, anglers will receive a gift card courtesy of Bass Pro Shops, Kodak, Tennessee.

Master Angler III certificate  

Master Angler III patch  

Master Angler IV

 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 IV certificate  

Master Angler IV patch  

Master Angler  V

Master Angler V: Anglers submitting twenty (20) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler V certificate, patch, and engraved plaque at no cost..

Master Angler V Certificate

Master Angler V Patch

Master Angler V Plaque

Qualify and Apply

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 TARP Application link.
  • 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 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.

Summary of TARP Entries

SPECIESQUALIFYING LENGTH (inches)TOTAL SUBMITTED
LARGEST (inches)WATERBODYCOUNTY
BLACK CRAPPIE1461319.75MELTON HILLKNOX
BLUE CATFISH3697061.00NICKAJACKMARION
BLUEGILL1027314.25CENTER HILLDeKALB
BOWFIN261030.00W.C. JOHNSON PARK LAKESHELBY
BROOK TROUT1052519.00OBEY RIVERCLAY
BROWN TROUT2622435.00S. F. HOLSTON RIVERSULLIVAN
CHANNEL CATFISH2814444.25BARKLEY RESERVOIRSTEWART
CHEROKEE BASS2812138.75FT. LOUDOUN RESERVOIRBLOUNT
COMMON CARP3415451.25PRIVATE LAKEWASHINGTON
FLATHEAD CATFISH3633160.00BARKLEY RESERVOIRMONTGOMERY
FRESHWATER DRUM2828439.00GUNTERSVILLEMARION
   39.00NICKAJACKHAMILTON
   39.00NORRISCAMPBELL
LAKE TROUT285134.75WATAUGA LAKECARTER
LARGEMOUTH BASS2280129.00PRIVATE LAKEHAYWOOD
   29.00LAKE SHERWOODCUMBERLAND
   29.00PARKSVILLE  LAKEPOLK
LONGNOSE GAR453159.50NICKAJACK  RESERVOIR 
MUSKELLUNGE4012353.40MELTON HILLHAMILTON
RAINBOW TROUT2413734.50WATAUGA RIVERCARTER
REDEAR SUNFISH1150914.50CENTER HILLDeKALB
   14.50OCOEE LAKEPOLK
ROCK BASS1031214.50DUCK RIVERBEDFORD
SAUGER207924.50PARKSVILLE RESERVOIRPOLK
SMALLMOUTH BASS20150728.00CHEROKEEJEFFERSON
SPOTTED BASS1817323.25PARKSVILLE POLK
STRIPED BASS4043751.00CANEY FORK RIVERSMITH
WALLEYE288734.00CORDELL HULLJACKSON
WHITE BASS187224.00MISSISSIPPI RIVERSHELBY
WHITE CRAPPIE14100018.75CHICKAMAUGAHAMILTON
YELLLOW BASS118215.00KENTUCKY RESERVOIRHARDIN
YELLOW PERCH1125016.00 (3)CHILHOWEE LAKEBLOUNT/MONROE

TARP Participant Information

Angler's Name Kind of Fish (Species) Length of fish Body of Water Caught County Date Caught

TARP Photo Gallery

Logan Daniel 31”  Freshwater Drum Chickamauga Reservoir July 12, 2026
Logan Daniel, 31” Freshwater Drum, Chickamauga Reservoir, July 12, 2026
Andy Coyne, 21" Largemouth Bass, Tennessee River, 02-2026
Andy Coyne, 21" Largemouth Bass, Tennessee River, 02-2026
Bridgett Valet, Smallmouth Bass  21.75”, Center Hill Reservoir, 05-2026
Bridgett Valet, Smallmouth Bass 21.75”, Center Hill Reservoir, 05-2026
Wyatt Greene, White Crappie 15.25”, Dale Hollow Reservoir, 04-2026
Wyatt Greene, White Crappie 15.25”, Dale Hollow Reservoir, 04-2026
Mack Fowler Striped Bass 41.50” Boone Lake, 03-2026
Mack Fowler Striped Bass 41.50” Boone Lake, 03-2026
Josh Logan, Walleye 28”, Old Hickory Reservoir, TN, 03-2026
Brian Johnson Sauger 22.75” Cumberland River
Brian Johnson, Sauger 22.75”, Cumberland River, TN, 02-2026

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