I've been close, but no cigar a couple times.
Back in 1991 my son caught a 16"yellow perch (on my pole, I was baiting his hook and handed it to him) when we lived in the U.P. We should have entered it but at that time didn't know how. I did get it mounted for him.
I'll just keep going and trying, after all you can't catch a Master Angler class fish sitting on a couch.....