Blue Cat TARP Spreadsheet

[rsimms]

I've been working on a magazine article this weekend. Researching the article I downloaded the most recent data for the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program "Blue Catfish" Category and created a sortable spreadsheet. It revealed some very interesting info.

As of November 2, 2007 there have been a total of 274 successful applicants for TWRA's Blue Catfish TARP Certificate.

Of those 274, more than half of them, 147 to be exact, have come from Chickamauga Lake.

And of those 147 Chickamauga Blue Catfish TARP Awards, 117 have been taken by EricM. I have referred to him as a "self-admitted blue catfishing, TARP-seeking addict." emoBigsmile

Following Chickamauga Lake on the TARP list is:
-- Watts Bar - 55 (42 by two anglers … Keith Wilson (23) and Mac Gasque (19))
-- Ft. Loudon - 27
-- Nickajack - 15
-- Kentucky/Barkley - 12
-- Mississippi River - 7

The largest recorded blue cat on the TARP list is a 61-inch fish taken by Wayne England on Nickajack Lake. Anybody know him? And what would that fish weigh???

Here's the spreadsheet if you want to play with it: <a href=http://outdoors.chattanooga.net/forumpics/TARPBLUECATFISH.xls>TARPBLUECATFISH.xls</A>

 

[foodsaver]

I wonder how many TARP fish are caught that are not turned in? I haven't turned in the first one but looking at the number of good fish I have caught I think there would be 25 or 30 mixed in there.

 

[EricM]

Up to 126 blue cats since that was put out. Guess I've reallly slewed the TARP numbers for both blue cats and Chickamauga. I guess that's what happens when you're out 3-4 days a week, all year, for about 3 years - 90% of the time for cats. Thanks for the nice spreadsheet Richard. Fun to play with!
By the way, my biggest fish were 57, 55, & 54 inches, at 84, 78, & 77 pounds. The 61 inch must have been a true 100+, or else very skinny. I can't be sure, but I thought I heard that a 103 (I think) was caught in Tennessee. I wonder if that could have been it?

 

[MrWiskers]

foodsaver - 11/25/2007 1:13 PM

I wonder how many TARP fish are caught that are not turned in? I haven't turned in the first one but looking at the number of good fish I have caught I think there would be 25 or 30 mixed in there.

This year on Nick I have caught a 50, 30, 25, and a couple of 20's. AlvinC got a 25 and probably a 20lber or two. And we only catfished a half dozen times this year. I have seen a 60+ come from the Riverpark area this year that was not turned in. Lots of TARP worth fish but none were turned in. I guess we are lazy or too cheap.emoBigsmile

 

[pondguy]

TARP?

what is it a tag?

 

[Guest]

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/

You would have had several this year pondguy if you had sent them in. It is pretty fun and the certificates look real nice.

 

[Guest]

Tennessee sportfishing rules apply.... Only fish caught with a rod and reel or canepole can qualify. No trotlines , jugs, limblines etc. can count.