Your Opinion On The Next World Record Largemouth

[Basswhippa]

WRB, I was standing on the shores of Lanier at a BASS tournament that KVD won around 1991/1992.  It was announced at the tournament.   "Folks the lake record is 17 pounds, and folks, that is a northern strain largemouth."     It shocked bystanders.   

 

Figured that would interest some folks.   As you mention, it could be in error, if it were a transplant or a fish that swam away from its native range prior to impoundment.     Lanier back then would have been perfect to grow such a beast, with less pressure.

[frogflogger]

When Rojas caught that record sack on Kissimmee they saw a bass they were convinced weighed 25lbs. Doug Hannon said he had tangled with record sized bass in some remote small Florida lakes - if there is a record in the state it will be north of the big O

[RoLo]

No one mentioned Cuba. I read of a local spearing a 30# lmb. Maybe Cubans never let the truth get in the way of a good fish story.

 

To attain world-class status, a largemouth bass must have the best of all worlds.

It must live at a latitude that's far enough south to provide the solar energy needed for a fast 'growth rate'

and prolonged growing season. But it must also live far enough north to provide a prolonged 'life span'.

Bass living at the southern extremity of their range tend to die prematurely due to thermal burnout

(like pushing a plant with grow lights). When either growth rate or longevity is lacking,

you can still have a bounty of trophy-class bass, but not world-class bass. 

 

The former world-record held by Georgia was apparently a very old bass, because its latitude

flirted with the northerly extreme of Floridanus lineage. The effect of thermal burnout can be seen

even within the state of Florida. A high percentage of Florida's heaviest bass hail from northern Florida waters

like Rodman, Kingsley and the upper St Johns River near Green Cove Springs (Two 18 pounders).

Lake Okeechobee in south Florida is fabled for its trophy-bass, but if you're looking for a Teener,

you're odds are much higher in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and northern Florida. 

 

Roger

[00 mod]

Mexico has a chance-

 

Lake Baccarac record is 19.1lbs

Lake El Salto - 18lbs 8 oz

Sugar Lake- 18+

Lake Comedero - 19lb 6oz

Lake Mateos - 18+

Lake Guerrero - 19+

 

I have heard stories several different times of locals with bass in excess of the world record.  It drives me to keep going.  Most of these records were caught in the early 1990's- but that doesn't mean there aren't still WR bass swimming there.  I will let ya'll know when I catch it!

 

Jeff

[Raul]

I doubt Mexico will be the home of the next WR, my reasons

 

1.- it´s too warm

2.- once a lake has produced a couple of big mommas the word gets out and then EVERYBODY FISHES IT TO DEATH

3.- Mexican lakes are not managed for big largemouth, they are managed to produce tons of tilapia and carp

4.- the same commercial fishermen that fish for tilapia and carp ( which know ***** about biology ) kill every bass they can put their hands on

5.- So far there is only one lake in the entire country managed for sport fishing: Lake "El Cuchillo"

6.- Incredibly enough we have the mindblogging situation in which most of the fisherman actually go to fish hoping to catch a big one not to mount it but to eat it ! I kid you not. anybody remember this baby ?

 

 

Well, the lake I caught it produced consistently many fish like that during a couple of years and, go to point No 2., in the present time you won´t catch something like that and not even closely related because those fish are gone, I heard it many times and even saw it with my eyes.

[WRB]

Northern Largemouth bass

7-9 scale rows above the lateral line.

59-68 scales in the lateral line.

15-16 scales rows below the lateral line.

Florida Largemouth bass

8-9 scale rows above the lateral line.

69-73 scales in the lateral line.

17-18 scales below the lateral line.

Field identification is fairly easy determining a NLMB from a FLMB, someday the IGFA will recognize the 2 bass are different and may establish records for both species. It isn't necessary for the FLMB to be a pure strain, if it's finer scaled, has 69 or more lateral line pore scales, it's a FLMB.

This would open the door to NLMB records when the catch is authenticated. We know the Kurita 22.3 lb bass is a FLMB world record.

Where will the next world record be caught? Ideally from Florida and fishery management is changing but guides still target big female bed fish using live bait and that isn't good for the trophy bass population.

Cuba and Mexico consider bass as a food source, allow gill nets and that needs to change.

Japan considers bass a invasive species, that needs to change.

South Africa also has netting problems and a wide range of predators.

California has tremendous fishing pressure and a lack of fishery management, there are a few trophy bass locations with a possible giant in the population, it could happen in a few years.

Texas is trying to produce a world record bass and has the fishery management to achieve this goal.

Louisiana is also into the trophy bass program, introducing FLMB in several fisheries.

Georgia is a possibility if you believe in the Perry bass.

Tom

[00 mod]

 

I doubt Mexico will be the home of the next WR, my reasons

 

1.- it´s too warm

2.- once a lake has produced a couple of big mommas the word gets out and then EVERYBODY FISHES IT TO DEATH

3.- Mexican lakes are not managed for big largemouth, they are managed to produce tons of tilapia and carp

4.- the same commercial fishermen that fish for tilapia and carp ( which know ***** about biology ) kill every bass they can put their hands on

5.- So far there is only one lake in the entire country managed for sport fishing: Lake "El Cuchillo"

6.- Incredibly enough we have the mindblogging situation in which most of the fisherman actually go to fish hoping to catch a big one not to mount it but to eat it ! I kid you not. anybody remember this baby ?

 

 

 

Well, the lake I caught it produced consistently many fish like that during a couple of years and, go to point No 2., in the present time you won´t catch something like that and not even closely related because those fish are gone, I heard it many times and even saw it with my eyes.

 

 

 

While I don't disagree, there is still a possibility!  And for that I will keep the quest alive!

 

Jeff

[Catch and Grease]

I'd say California, Somewhere in Mexico, or Georiga but I'm just guessing lol

[deep]

Northern Largemouth bass

7-9 scale rows above the lateral line.

59-68 scales in the lateral line.

15-16 scales rows below the lateral line.

Florida Largemouth bass

8-9 scale rows above the lateral line.

69-73 scales in the lateral line.

17-18 scales below the lateral line.

Field identification is fairly easy determining a NLMB from a FLMB, someday the IGFA will recognize the 2 bass are different and may establish records for both species. It isn't necessary for the FLMB to be a pure strain, if it's finer scaled, has 69 or more lateral line pore scales, it's a FLMB.

This would open the door to NLMB records when the catch is authenticated. We know the Kurita 22.3 lb bass is a FLMB world record.

Where will the next world record be caught? Ideally from Florida and fishery management is changing but guides still target big female bed fish using live bait and that isn't good for the trophy bass population.

Cuba and Mexico consider bass as a food source, allow gill nets and that needs to change.

Japan considers bass a invasive species, that needs to change.

South Africa also has netting problems and a wide range of predators.

California has tremendous fishing pressure and a lack of fishery management, there are a few trophy bass locations with a possible giant in the population, it could happen in a few years.

Texas is trying to produce a world record bass and has the fishery management to achieve this goal.

Louisiana is also into the trophy bass program, introducing FLMB in several fisheries.

Georgia is a possibility if you believe in the Perry bass.

Tom

 

Tom, what do you think is the biggest NLMB ever caught? The MA state record? What sizes do they reach in SoCal?

 

Thanks,

[WRB]

Tom, what do you think is the biggest NLMB ever caught? The MA state record? What sizes do they reach in SoCal?

Thanks,

Maybe the Alabama 16 lb 8 oz state record? Nope, it was a FLMB from a private lake.

California record NLMB before the FLMB were introduced and was 14 lbs 7 oz.

Tom

[Catt]

Sorry Tom but Louisiana aint even in the hunt...yet!

Texas has the best management plus bass from Florida, California, & Cuba were brought in to improve the genetics.

Florida's management is second

Roger, I've heard stories of some big ole bass in obscure lakes in the Ocala area!

[WRB]

Sorry Tom but Louisiana aint even in the hunt...yet!

Texas has the best management plus bass from Florida, California, & Cuba were brought in to improve the genetics.

Florida's management is second

Roger, I've heard stories of some big ole bass in obscure lakes in the Ocala area!

You hear a lot of stories of 32"-33" bass in Florida, if they have the food for girth they would be over 25 lbs!

It would be good for the sport if Florida produced the record, California bass are less than 30", like the Kurita bass, don't know about the Texas bass lengths?

Tom

[Team9nine]

Tom, what do you think is the biggest NLMB ever caught? The MA state record? What sizes do they reach in SoCal?

 

Thanks,

 

 

Maybe the Alabama 16 lb 8 oz state record? Nope, it was a FLMB from a private lake.

California record NLMB before the FLMB were introduced and was 14 lbs 7 oz.

Tom

 

I'd bet it's the Mass. fish. An outside guess would be a couple Virginia fish of the same size, though FL genes are in play to some degree in that state. As Tom said, the Alabama 16-pound, 8-ounce record was a Florida-strain fish raised in a carefully-managed private lake in Shelby County in 1987. Oklahoma state record also had FL genes. If you draw a line across the country using the 37th parallel as the divider, only three states north of that line have a state record bass over 14 pounds, Virginia, Indiana and Mass. IN and MA were northern strains. That accounts for 35 of the 50 states. Most every state south of that line has a larger state record (>14 pounds) and many, if not most, were FL strains. Tennessee record stood for 60 years until this spring when a FL strain finally broke that record.

 

As for where next - Japan...

 

-T9

[Mainebass1984]

I think it would be tough for California to break the record. It seems a lot has changed from when it was routinely producing teeners and fish over 20. Those fish were 1st and 2nd generation Florida strain that fed heavily on rainbow trout that were heavily stocked weekly. The water bodies were mostly full if not full then as well. The current situation in California is much different. Drought has persisted, drawing most bodies of water well below even being half full. Rainbow Trout are not heavily stocked anymore. Pure Florida strain genetics has been diluted by the northern strain that had been there before Florida strains were stocked. Striped bass have also been introduced into a number of famous fisheries competing with largemouth. I would like for the record to be broken from the US. I think it could but I see it as being doubtful. Texas Share a lunker program gives Texas a great shot at producing world class fish. I think the next world record will not come from the US.

[blckshirt98]

I remember this article last year and wondering what everyone's opinions are on "engineering" a world record bass -

 

http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/building-world-record-bass

 

I think right now California has the best shot because they probably have a few world record bass swimming in their reservoirs, there's a lot of people going after them, and with the drought there are low lake levels across the state and therefore fewer places those fish can hide.  Florida and Texas probably have some world record bass, but places like Okeechobee, Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend are freaking huge, and those bass might never come within 100 yards of a lure in their lifetime.

 

On a sad note, Lake Mission Viejo was a private lake in SoCal that a few locals thought had a world record bass swimming around in it.  Earlier this year a golden algae bloom killed off almost all the fish in the lake.

[rboat]

I believe it will be from small private waters in Georgia or Florida. A drainage canal or maybe a golf course pond. I have seen very large bass in these areas, but they are posted no fishing.

[spencer12]

Just curious, how do you know the #4, 17.9 was a northern strain, was it examined? Did it have fewer than 68 lateral line pore scales for example? Just because a bass is out of it's native range doesn't mean a transplant didn't happen.

Tom

I believe basswhippa qouted me and wrote in my qoute box I didn't say that.

[spencer12]

This is what I could find for Fla.

 

 

1.) 20-lb 2-oz; 31 in L; 27 in G; Pasco Co; Big Fish Lake; 5-19-1923 by Frederick “Fritz” Friebel (current “non-certified” FL Record).

2.) 19-lb 11-oz; 29 in L; 23.25 in G; Indian River Co; Farm 13/Stick Marsh (St. Johns River Basin); 7-5-1994 by Doug Thompson (catch and release).

3.) 19-lb 4-oz; Taylor Creek Reservoir (St. Johns River Basin); 6-30-1974 by Phil Jay.

4.) 19-lb; Pinellas Co; Lake Tarpon; 6-26-1961 by W.A. Riley Witt (former “non-certified” FL Record).

5.) 18-lb 15-oz; Pinellas Co; Lake Tarpon, 1961 by unknown angler.

6.) 18-lb 13-oz; 29.5 in L; 26.5 in G; Clay Co; St. Johns River; 4-12-1987 by Buddy Wright.

7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; Jan 2008 by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).
7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Alachua Co; Newnan’s Lake; pre-1986 by Wayne Jacobs.
7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Leon Co; Lake Jackson; Mar 1967 by unknown angler.

8.) 18-lb 5-oz; Madison Co; 3-25-1968 by Bobbie Haskell.

9.) 18-lb 4-oz; St. Johns River; 12-16-1948 by J.W. Smith.

10.) 18-lb 2-oz; Clay Co; Lake Brooklyn; 3-12-1966 by Hugh Paul.
10.) 18-lb 2-oz; Taylor Creek Reservoir (St. Johns River Basin); 6-25-1974 by Phil Jay.

11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).
11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Indian River Co; Farm 13/Stick Marsh (St. Johns River Basin); 4-4-1994 by Robert Bloom (catch and release).
11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Indian River Co; Lake Blue Cypress (St. Johns River Basin); pre-1975 by unknown angler.

12.) 18-lb; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; since 2000? by Steve Smith (catch and release).
12.) 18-lb; Polk Co; Lake Marion; pre-1992 by unknown angler.
12.) 18-lb; 30 in L; 25 in G; Franklin Co; Tucker Lake; 1964 by L. L. Petty.
12.) 18-lb; Lake George (St. Johns River); 5-3-1958 by Marlin Coston.
12.) 18-lb; Putnam Co; Ashley Lake; 3-25-1951 by Carl Swisher.
12.) 18-lb; Citrus Co; Homosassa River; pre-1992 by unknown angler.
12.) 18-lb; Withlacoochee River; pre-1992 by unknown angler.

13.) 17-lb 15-oz; Mar 1988 by Donald Brunson.

14.) 17-lb 12-oz; Osceola Co; West Lake Tohopekaliga; 7-11-1986 by John Faircloth.

15.) 17-lb 9-oz; Lake George (St. Johns River); pre-1974 by Babette Morgan.

16.) 17-lb 8-oz; 28 in L; 25 in G; Orange Co; Lake Rose; 1985 by Mike Paule.
16.) 17-lb 8-oz; 28 in L; 25 in G; Okaloosa Co; Hurricane Lake; 3-19-1983 by Robert Earl Dunsford.
16.) 17-lb 8-oz; Lake George (St. Johns River); pre-1974 by Justin Morgan.

17.) 17-lb 7-oz; Lake Co; “small sand mine pond”; pre-1998 by Bing McClellan.

18.) 17-lb 6-oz; Polk Co; Lake Winterset; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).

19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Polk Co; Lake Summit; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 25 in L?; Orange Co; Raccoon Lake; 3-3-1992 by Linda Richardson.
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Alachua Co; Orange Lake; pre-1990 by unknown angler.
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Walton Co; King (or Kings) Lake; 1987 by unknown angler.
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 30 in L; 22.5 in G; Polk Co; unnamed lake; 7-6-1986 by Billy O’Berry (current “certified” FL Record).
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 29.7 in L; 1973 by Doug Hannon.
19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 32 in L; Lake Okeechobee; Feb 1971 by J.J. Shaw.

20.) 17-lb 3-oz; near Winter Haven; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).
20.) 17-lb 3-oz; Marion Co; Lake Weir; 1960’s or 1970’s by unknown angler.

21.) 17-lb 2-oz; 27 in L; Lake Ocklawaha (“Rodman Reservoir”, Ocklawaha River Basin); 3-11-2000 by E.C. “Doodle Bug” Dressler.
21.) 17-lb 2-oz; “Lake Record in the Holmes Creek area”; pre-1989 by Randolph Field.
21.) 17-lb 2-oz; pre-1983 by Carl Wagner.

22.) 17-lb 1-oz; near Winter Haven; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release).

23.) 17-lb; Bay Co; Felix Lake (Tydall AFB); pre-2009 by unknown angler.
23.) 17-lb; Putnam Co; Crescent Lake (St. Johns River Basin); 1980’s by unknown angler.
23.) 17-lb; 32 in L; Lake Co; Lake Schimmerhorn (Ocala NF); pre-1984 by unknown angler.
23.) 17-lb; 32 in L; Marion Co; Half Moon Lake (Ocala NF); pre-1984 by unknown angler.
23.) 17-lb; Marion Co; Lake Bryant (Ocala NF); pre-1975 by unknown angler.

[spencer12]

I believe a Fl. angler found those records from his research so again the accuracy of it is not 100%

[RoLo]

Roger, I've heard stories of some big ole bass in obscure lakes in the Ocala area!

 

Tom, you certainly know Florida, and you inspire me to bone-up on Louisiana, the next bastion.

 

About 25 years ago, a guy named Roland Martin hired a bush pilot to fly-spy the "Big Scrub", 

that's what the locals call the Ocala National Forest. About 25 years ago, your's truly played the clown.

Lois & I tore up the Old Scrub with our 4x4 Subaru. No, we didn't land any record-class bass,

but the xeric underbrush cost me a new paint job for the Subaru. We had fun though, and I'm sure I'd do it again.

 

Roger

[Big Bait Fishing]

right here in northern  San Diego , Ca . !!!!   

[bigbill]

Think about this?

I see freshwater otters at twilight before daybreak. Think about this family of otters eating the next world record?

How about some little kid with his bat man zebco outfit at some unknown body of water catching the next world record. This one I hope for.

[Basswhippa]

Several Tennessee River lakes have been stocked with Floridas. I'm not going to say which one, but a gill netter has been quoted as catching and releasing 3 in the 20 pound class. This was before everyone had cameras with them all the time, and a clue to which lake, although it still could be several before you guess. These were the pure newly stocked Floridas, and keep in mind, a well educated bass can suspend in parts of the channel and gobble down 2 pound gizzard shad, if it were to so choose.

This story was told by a legit commercial fisherman. I really don't believe they were 20 pounders, as he stated "20 pound class", but I do believe they were in the 18 pound range. A few years back one between 17 aND 18 was shocked up in TN. Just throwing Chick and the new stocking program at Nickajack into the world record mix. TN River lakes have documented smallmouths up to 10.5 pounds. I'd doubt a WR is possible, but I'd bet 18 pound class fish will be taken in the next decade or two, given the biomass of shad.

[WRB]

Back in the late 60's to early 70's I was traveling to the Olando and Daytona beach area working the space program at Cape Canaveral. Every hotel lobby had guide pictures/ brochures of bass from the Ocala Forest.

I booked a few trips back then, the guides were all shiners anglers and that wasn't my thing, so I brought my DeLong Otay special 12" plastic worms and caught a few big bass. The Florida bass were new to me however my experience at Lower Otayand other San Deigo lakes proved interesting to the guides who hadn't seen split shot big worms before.

Tom

[RoLo]

In no uncertain terms, the state of Florida has done a shabby job of documenting world-class largemouth bass in the past. 

One could argue that attention to freshwater bass has been hijacked by Florida being the most popular retirement state.

In addition, Florida is littered with legendary saltwater fishing destinations such as Mosquito Lagoon, Sailfish Alley,

Islamorado, Marathon, Key West and Destin, where the big bucks are garnered. Sad but true, Florida's historic records

for freshwater bass have been more astutely maintained by out-of-state organizations like the IGFA, Field and Stream,

Int'l Spin Fishing Association and others. Below is a list of "certified" bass taken in Florida that were not recognized

by the state, in many cases simply because the fish wasn't visited and identified by a state biologist,

or because a second witness wasn't present at the weigh-in. 

 

The list below expires on year 2011 and only includes world-class bass 17.5 pounds and up. 

 

20-lb 2-oz     Big Fish Lake - May 1923 - Fritz Friebel (fully documented, but not Florida certified)

19-lb 15-oz   Keystone Lake - 1927 - R. E. Lucas 

19-lb 11-oz   (29" L x 23.25" G) - Stick Marsh - Jul 1994 - Doug Thompson

19-lb 8-oz     (29” L 23” G) – Stick Marsh – May 1994 – Ed Johnson

19-lb 4-oz     Taylor Creek Reservoir – Jun 1974 – Phil Jay

19-lb 0-oz     (31”L) – Lake Tarpon – Jun 1961 – Riley Witt (former Florida state record later rescinded)

18-lb 13-oz   (29.5”L x 26.5”G) St Johns River - Apr 1987 - Buddy Wright (fully documented & certified)

18-lb 8-oz     Orange Grove Lake – Jan 2008 – Jeffrey Smith

18-lb 4-oz     St. Johns River – Dec 1948 - J.W. Smith

18-lb 2-oz     Taylor Creek Reservoir - Jun 1974 – Phil Jay

18-lb 2-oz     Lake Brooklyn – Mar 1966 – Hugh Paul

18-lb 1-oz     Stick Marsh – Apr 1994 – Robert Bloom

18-lb 0-oz     Orange Grove Lake – Steve Smith (IGFA documented)

18-lb 0-oz     (30”L) – Tucker Lake – 1964 – L.L. Petty 

18-lb 0-oz     Lake George (St Johns River) – May 1958 – Marlin Coston

18-lb 0-oz     Ashley Lake – Mar 1951 – Carl Swisher

17-lb 15-oz   Undisclosed waters – Mar 1988 – Donald Brunson 

17-lb 12-oz   West Lake Tohopekaliga (West Toho) – Jul 1986 – John Faircloth 

17-lb 9-oz     Lake George (St. Johns River) – Babette Morgan

17-lb 8-oz     (28”Lx25”G) Lake Rose – 1985 – Mike Paule 

17-lb 8-oz     (28”Lx25”G) Hurricane Lake – Mar 1983 – Robert Earl

17-lb 8-oz     Lake George (St. Johns River) – Justin Morgan

 

On a high note, in 2012 the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) launched a new and comprehensive

'TrophyCatch' program. The program is subdivided into 3 classes: "Lunker" (8 lb threshold),

"Trophy" (10 lb threshold) and "Hall of Fame" (13 lb threshold). Each division dispenses a monetary reward,

but needless to say, refusing the reward is a donation to Florida's fish & wildlife management.

 

Roger