FishRook
Feb. 23—ATHENS — Anglers throughout Texas established fishing records through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Angler Recognition Program (ARP) in 2023, highlighted by one of the most notable — six-year-old Ernst Toepfer V becoming the youngest Elite Angler in program history.
Toepfer earned his Saltwater Elite Angler Award certificate by accumulating Big Fish awards for five saltwater qualifying species. He landed 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. He frequently fished with his Father, Ernst Toepfer IV, and Grandfather, Ernst Toepfer III.
An Elite Angler is a one-time achievement award for those who catch trophy-class fish of five different species in either freshwater or saltwater categories. To be eligible, an angler must earn five freshwater or five saltwater Big Fish Awards, given for fish meeting or exceeding the program minimum length for their species. Anglers can…
