Cumberland County, Tenn., resident Richard Marsich recently caught this state-record-tying yellow perch in the Fairfield Glade area of Cumberland County. The fish, and the other state record caught in 2017, weigh 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Marsich caught the perch while fishing with his son, Scott, who photographed the catch. / Contributed photo by Scott Marsich
A Cumberland County, Tennessee, man recently caught a yellow perch that ties the state record set in January 2017.
Richard Marsich’s record-tying yellow perch was caught in the Fairfield Glade area of Cumberland County, just as last year’s state record yellow perch was caught by Trenton McCoy, according to a statement issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Both fish weighed in at 2 pounds, 3 ounces, TWRA officials said.
Marsich caught his record while fishing with his son, the angler told officials.
“We set out to bass fish,” Marsich said. “My son suggested trying to perch fish after hearing from a nearby angler about the presence of perch.”
After a short time of bottom fishing, Marsich felt a tug on the line and starting reeling, TWRA officials said.
“The water was so clear, I could see the fish at about 12 feet down,” Marsich’s son, Scott, said.
The younger Marsich knew immediately that it was a perch and was excited by the size.
Richard Marsich knew it was a nice fish, but didn’t recognize that it could be a state record, officials said. Scott Marsich realized the potential and immediately looked up the record using his cell phone.
TWRA officials said yellow perch are considered an adaptable species and great table fare, but noted that they are not stocked by the agency. However, many private lakes in the Fairfield Glade area have yellow perch, and the fish can be found in the several reservoirs of the Tennessee River system, officials said.
The average length of yellow perch in Tennessee is 8 inches.
Marsich’s yellow perch was 15 and 7/8 inches long. The Marsich family visited the TWRA Region III office where the perch was weighed and measured again by reservoir biologists Mike Jolley.
“It’s a beautiful fish and great to share in the excitement of a happy angler,” Jolley said of the catch. “[It] touches all of us that a father and son were able to share this great experience.”
Richard Marsich has donated the fish for taxidermy to be added to the collection at the TWRA regional office.