25 lb Largemouth Caught in San Diego

[Cheetam]

This looks legit...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20060320-1251-bn20bass.html

[stackenem]

Sure like to see a picture of that hoggggggggggg.

[cwinsiii]

By the article he has some problems on it being a new world record. He snagged it and didn't measure it.

I read last summer they said to be registered as a new record the fish has to die so they can properly verify the fish. What is everyones opinion on the fish having to die.

I think for a record that has not been broken in 74 years and with all the money involved the fish would at least need to be x-rayed then released.

I think this is the third fish in the last couple years that could have been a new record if the person would have followed procedure.

They say the new record could be a million dollar fish.

[Cheetam]

 

[Cheetam]

Here's a discussion about the fish and some insight on the 3 guys who were there...apparently they know what it takes for a fish to recognized as the world record...and that's why it was only weighed on a handscale and realeased...

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12663

[raisinrat]

World Record or not that is a Pig.

[yukonjack2]

thats not a pig,   it looks like it swallowed a pig.

awesome fish!

[djkimmel]

I would have called it a mutant... pretty hard on a bass that big to only hold it by the lower lip - OUCH!

[djkimmel]

I call these 'anti-exciting' catches because there's questions, confusion and issues, and George Perry keeps his record. Almost drives me crazy and I not even involved in the catch. Looks like a massive bass, but in the end, George Perry keeps his record anyway. I don't know that I could take the stress of the world record bass hunt??

[MBell]

As far as I'm concerned George Perry's record has been broken at least twice.  I'm glad they didn't kill the fish, I doubt George Perry had to jump through hoops to get his record.  He ended up eating the fish!  I looked into submiting some line class records for Michigan earlier in the year, it was ridiculous.  You had to pay just to view the records and then pay again to submit an application.  Congrats to the angler.  Anyone know if a snagged fish is legal in CA?
-Matt

[Cheetam]

Here's some updated news on this fish...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20060321-9999-1s21bass.html

[blakstr1]

I'm smiling after reading that last article he said he felt a bump (kind of like stubbing your toe on a dumptruck)  what a fish!!  i say give him some kind of record, because IT IS!!  if they won't make it official, put it in the books with the dreaded (*) by it.... what a fish...

[bosshawg]

it is huge!!! couldn't even imagine a bass that size on the end of my line.....and these guys catch those huge toads all the time out there.  road trip!!

[MBell]

I read on bassfan that it was on a bed in gin clear water.  Apparently a lot of people knew about this fish and were waiting in line when the park opened.  If he snagged it on a bed thats horrible.  A snagged fish is one thing but intentionally snagging a fish is a whole other issue.
-Matt 

[Hooksetter]

That is a monster bass! I'd like to see the video they took when they were weighing her.

[djkimmel]

I've read what was linked yesterday and it looks like they tried to catch it, but accidently snagged it in the process. Who knows for sure. The record hunt out there is brutally competitive...?

They either knew they couldn't claim the record, or had the integrity to not try in questionable circumstances, so they let the fish go. I imagine they figure they can try to catch it again under proper circumstances, maybe off the same bed?

It's too big an issue now to not be done under pristine conditions and the scale they used could not possibly be considered certified anyway. I would wonder if they had a tank of some kind available to keep it alive for view by a fisheries person?

I think I recall seeing that a foul-hooked fish caught in CA is not legal similar to the regulation in Michigan - a fish must be hooked in the mouth to be a legal catch.

[cameraguy]

One of the articles I read about this monster fish said that it was illegal to keep a foul-hooked fish in California. 

 

[cameraguy]

Also, it appears that he did not snag it on purpose.  Why would he when he offered a guy $1,000 to move off of the fish?  He knew what was at stake and, by his behavior, knew California regulation about foul-hooked fish.

And...as Dan said, that is a poor way to hold a very large bass if you intend to release it.  Several articles I've read over the last few years (and, I believe, Scott Moody, the biologist at BPS) make a good case that holding a large (5+ lbs.) bass by the lip can be detrimental to the health of the bass.  The jaw can be dislocated to the point that it can't feed properly.

[Pkleppert]

Read the book "Sowbelly" by Monte Burch.  It's about the chase for the world record Largemouth and describes in length how those guys in San Diego chase the record.  The guy who caught the fish and his buddies are part of the book along with Bob Crupi, Mike Long and others.  Its a great book.

PK

[Pkleppert]

Whoops, my bad.  The author is Monte Burke. 

PK