Yellow perch caught in Cumberland County ties state record

Mike Organ | The Tennessean

A Midstate fisherman recently caught a yellow perch that tied the state record.

Richard Marsich of Crossville landed the fish, which weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces, in the Fairfield Glade area of Cumberland County.

It tied the record set in January 2017 by Trenton McCoy, who caught his fish in the same area.

Marsich credited his son Scott for helping him catch his record fish after the two started out fishing for bass.

"My son suggested trying to perch fish after hearing from a nearby angler about the presence of perch,” Marsich said.

After a short time of bottom fishing, Marsich felt a tug on his line and started reeling.

It didn't take long for Scott Marsich to believe his father had caught a special fish. Scott immediately looked up the record on his cellphone.

The fish was 15⅞ inches long.

After having the perch weighed on certified scales, the Marsiches contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and then visited the Region III office to fill out the proper paperwork.

TWRA reservoir biologist Mike Jolley reweighed and measured the fish.

“It’s a beautiful fish, and it's great to share in the excitement of a happy angler," Jolley said. "More so, it touches all of us that a father and son were able to share this great experience.”

Jolley said yellow perch are considered an adaptable species and great table fare. They are not stocked by TWRA. However, many private lakes in the Fairfield Glade area have yellow perch.

The fish also can be found in several reservoirs of the Tennessee River system. An average length of yellow perch in Tennessee is 8 inches.

Marsich donated the fish for taxidermy to be added to the TWRA regional office.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.