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. 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 (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 (see chart below), 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 Level I certificate and patch at no cost.  
  3. Master Angler level II: Anglers submitting five (5) different trophy-size fish receive a Master Angler level II certificate and patch at no cost. 
  4. 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.
  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 

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

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 1 Certificate

Master Angler I certificate

Master Angler 1  Patch

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 2 Certificate

Master Angler II certificate 

Master Angler 2 patch

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 3 Certificate

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 certificate  

Master Angler IV  Patch

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 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 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

SPECIES QUALIFYING LENGTH (inches) TOTAL SUBMITTED
LARGEST (inches) WATERBODY COUNTY
BLACK CRAPPIE 14 613 19.75 MELTON HILL KNOX
BLUE CATFISH 36 970 61.00 NICKAJACK MARION
BLUEGILL 10 273 14.25 CENTER HILL DeKALB
BOWFIN 26 10 30.00 W.C. JOHNSON PARK LAKE SHELBY
BROOK TROUT 10 525 19.00 OBEY RIVER CLAY
BROWN TROUT 26 224 35.00 S. F. HOLSTON RIVER SULLIVAN
CHANNEL CATFISH 28 144 44.25 BARKLEY RESERVOIR STEWART
CHEROKEE BASS 28 121 38.75 FT. LOUDOUN RESERVOIR BLOUNT
COMMON CARP 34 154 51.25 PRIVATE LAKE WASHINGTON
FLATHEAD CATFISH 36 331 60.00 BARKLEY RESERVOIR MONTGOMERY
FRESHWATER DRUM 28 284 39.00 GUNTERSVILLE MARION
      39.00 NICKAJACK HAMILTON
      39.00 NORRIS CAMPBELL
LAKE TROUT 28 51 34.75 WATAUGA LAKE CARTER
LARGEMOUTH BASS 22 801 29.00 PRIVATE LAKE HAYWOOD
      29.00 LAKE SHERWOOD CUMBERLAND
      29.00 PARKSVILLE  LAKE POLK
LONGNOSE GAR 45 31 59.50 NICKAJACK  RESERVOIR  
MUSKELLUNGE 40 123 53.40 MELTON HILL HAMILTON
RAINBOW TROUT 24 137 34.50 WATAUGA RIVER CARTER
REDEAR SUNFISH 11 509 14.50 CENTER HILL DeKALB
      14.50 OCOEE LAKE POLK
ROCK BASS 10 312 14.50 DUCK RIVER BEDFORD
SAUGER 20 79 24.50 PARKSVILLE RESERVOIR POLK
SMALLMOUTH BASS 20 1507 28.00 CHEROKEE JEFFERSON
SPOTTED BASS 18 173 23.25 PARKSVILLE  POLK
STRIPED BASS 40 437 51.00 CANEY FORK RIVER SMITH
WALLEYE 28 87 34.00 CORDELL HULL JACKSON
WHITE BASS 18 72 24.00 MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHELBY
WHITE CRAPPIE 14 1000 18.75 CHICKAMAUGA HAMILTON
YELLLOW BASS 11 82 15.00 KENTUCKY RESERVOIR HARDIN
YELLOW PERCH 11 250 16.00 (3) CHILHOWEE LAKE BLOUNT/MONROE

TARP Participant Information

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

TARP Photo Gallery

Brian Johnson Sauger 22.75” Cumberland River
Brian Johnson, Sauger 22.75”, Cumberland River, TN, 02-2026
Email sign up link