Anglers Broke Records All Over Texas in 2023 Angler Recognition Program

ATHENS — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Angler Recognition Program witnessed Texas anglers breaking fishing records in 2023, with six-year-old Ernst Toepfer V making headlines as the youngest Elite Angler in program history.

Toepfer clinched the Saltwater Elite Angler Award certificate by securing Big Fish awards for five saltwater qualifying species. His impressive catches included a 21.75-inch sheepshead, 22.75-inch black drum, 21.25-inch ladyfish, 21-inch spotted seatrout, and a 14.88-inch sand seatrout. Accompanied by his father, Ernst Toepfer IV, and grandfather, Ernst Toepfer III, Toepfer showcased remarkable angling prowess at such a tender age.

The Elite Angler distinction is a prestigious one-time achievement award for individuals who reel in trophy-class fish of five different species in either freshwater or saltwater categories. To qualify, an angler must earn five freshwater or five saltwater Big Fish Awards, granted for fish meeting or surpassing the program's minimum length requirements for their species. Anglers have the option to pursue both Freshwater Elite Angler and Saltwater Elite Angler awards simultaneously.

Grace Simms, TPWD Angler Recognition Program coordinator, expressed delight in processing Toepfer's applications, noting his evident enthusiasm for fishing captured in the submitted photos. She commended the family's bonding over angling adventures, underscoring the joy of passing down the tradition to younger generations. Toepfer's achievement at his age was hailed as exceptional, embodying the program's spirit of fostering a love for angling across generations.

Participation in the program soared in 2023, with anglers notching over 1,032 official records or awards for their catches. A total of 73 new state records and 666 waterbody records were established during the year. These records, spanning public and private freshwater fisheries as well as saltwater fisheries in Texas, encompassed overall and junior angler categories. The program also honored 444 Big Fish, 81 First Fish, and 190 Outstanding Angler awards.

Several notable catches marked the 2023 roster of achievements:

• Cathy Johnson's capture of a short bigeye in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 12, weighing 3.3 pounds and measuring 18.5 inches, earned her state and waterbody records.
• Maggy Sojourner, aged nine, landed a substantial blue catfish at Lake Granbury on Jan. 22, weighing 26.37 pounds, securing a junior waterbody record and an Outstanding Angler Award.
• Paul Hefner's monumental catch of a 207-pound alligator gar measuring 90 inches at Lake Corpus Christi on April 13 earned him a Big Fish Award and a waterbody record.
• Thomas Valadez's striped mullet, weighing 14.10 pounds and measuring 30 inches, garnered him a state record, waterbody record, First Fish Award, and an Outstanding Angler Award.
• Erin French's remarkable red drum, measuring 38 inches, reeled in on April 27 in the Freeport Bay Area, earned her a Big Fish Award and a Water Body Catch and Release Record.

The Angler Recognition Program, headquartered at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens, encompasses various award categories such as rod and reel, fly fishing, bow fishing, and the newly introduced state record all-tackle category. This category recognizes records for the largest fish by species caught using any legal method, replacing the state record/other methods in June 2021.

Records are registered based on weight or length at both the state and individual waterbody levels. The ARP accepts length-only record applications for the catch and live release of selected species in Texas public waters, catering to conservation-minded anglers lacking certifiable scales for weighing record fish before release. Fish must meet or exceed the minimum qualifications of a Big Fish Award to be eligible for a catch and release record.

Additionally, anglers can earn a First Fish Award for their inaugural catch and an Outstanding Angler Award for noteworthy catches that do not qualify for other types of recognition, commemorating memorable fishing experiences.

Simms emphasized that every catch submitted receives recognition, provided it adheres to program rules, underscoring the significance of each angler's memorable experiences on the water.

Anglers are urged to familiarize themselves with program regulations and submission procedures before embarking on fishing excursions. Proper weighing and length measurement techniques, along with accompanying high-quality photos, are essential for submission. Fish must be weighed on certified or legal-for-trade scales within three days of capture, although anglers may initially weigh their catch on personal scales, certifying them within 30 days.

To submit applications, anglers can email [email protected] or send them via mail to Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM-2495, Athens, TX 75752, within 60 days of the catch date. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each angler stands a chance to feature as the "Catch of the Month," with TFFC staff selecting one captivating catch for showcasing on the Angler Recognition Program website. High-quality, clear photos must accompany ARP applications for any award category, underscoring the program's commitment to celebrating anglers' achievements.