Chattanoogan Steve Norris displays one fish that would be a world record if he had known the certifying process when he caught it.
He has a world record now, though.
And although the 24-pound, 6-ounce freshwater drum he caught May 19 on 12-pound-test line just below Chickamauga Dam soon will become the 30th trophy fish on the walls of the den in his home near Harrison, he seems more thrilled to have it part of the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program than a listing in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
“Oh, it’s great to have a world record, and I’ll probably never have another one,” the lifetime fisherman said. “But I’m just very excited about the TARP program.”
The TARP is not about records but big fish in general, and they don’t have to be kept to be appreciated. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has set minimum lengths for recognition for each of 24 species, and with proper documentation the fish can be put back in the water and the angler gets a colorful certificate that itself looks impressive on a wall.