22lbs 7oz reported from Dixon Ca

[KU_Bassmaster.]

If i caught a 22lb fish, i would have video, pictures from every angle and measurements, then i would find way to have her radio tagged. There is NO REASON to put a real fish on a wall anymore.

There's only two bass I would keep ..... the WR and a state record.

[5bass]

If i caught a 22lb fish, i would have video, pictures from every angle and measurements, then i would find way to have her radio tagged. There is NO REASON to put a real fish on a wall anymore.

There's only two bass I would keep ..... the WR and a state record.

I would keep the World Record alive if at all possible and find somewhere that would take it in and had a big enough tank so that paople could go look at it.It would be interesting to see how big it could actually get before kicking the bucket.

[Hookhead]

Sorry but...

Too many details don't add up.

[playmaker47]

If i caught a 22lb fish, i would have video, pictures from every angle and measurements, then i would find way to have her radio tagged. There is NO REASON to put a real fish on a wall anymore.

There's only two bass I would keep ..... the WR and a state record.

I would keep the World Record alive if at all possible and find somewhere that would take it in and had a big enough tank so that paople could go look at it.It would be interesting to see how big it could actually get before kicking the bucket.

That would be cool to be able to look at a WR in the aquariums every time you stop by Bass Pro Shops to pick up some tackle. I bet the other fish in those aquariums would be scared!!

[Tenka]

If i caught a 22lb fish, i would have video, pictures from every angle and measurements, then i would find way to have her radio tagged. There is NO REASON to put a real fish on a wall anymore.

There's only two bass I would keep ..... the WR and a state record.

I would keep the World Record alive if at all possible and find somewhere that would take it in and had a big enough tank so that paople could go look at it.It would be interesting to see how big it could actually get before kicking the bucket.

BPS is building 2 stores in California.  I think having the world record in one of them tanks would be really cool.  Tobad no opther fish would be able to be put in save a big carp or stripper.  no trout, talipia, smallies all that would be lumch for this big mama

[KU_Bassmaster.]

If i caught a 22lb fish, i would have video, pictures from every angle and measurements, then i would find way to have her radio tagged. There is NO REASON to put a real fish on a wall anymore.

There's only two bass I would keep ..... the WR and a state record.

I would keep the World Record alive if at all possible and find somewhere that would take it in and had a big enough tank so that paople could go look at it.It would be interesting to see how big it could actually get before kicking the bucket.

Yes that would probably be better, but when it does kick the bucket .... it's going up on my wall.

[5bass]

Exactly. ;D

[Madhouse27]

If their plan was to go back to catch the bass legally (not foul hooked) don't you think they would have kept their mouths shut about it? That lake is going to be a zoo. Something is a bit strange about this story. Question: would the fact that the fish was foul hooked disqualify the world record?

[5bass]

If their plan was to go back to catch the bass legally (not foul hooked) don't you think they would have kept their mouths shut about it? That lake is going to be a zoo. Something is a bit strange about this story. Question: would the fact that the fish was foul hooked disqualify the world record?

I would say so but not exactly sure......anybody(anybody in California that is,) could see a 23 pounder on a bed and snag it on the outside of the mouth.When there is money on the line (no matter what the sport) SOMEONE WILL CHEAT.

Not saying they cheated at all because the story is still in the fog but for him to throw it back w/o having it certified and everything is very strange.But,he could still be bucking for it to be the World Record but admitting to foul-hooking it and the lack of length and girth measurements would leave alot of info to be desired on such a "wanted" fish.

Just going by what is known right now,I'd be shocked if it sticks.

[Vermonster]

Howdy Guys!!!!  I happen to live 4 miles from Lake Dixon.  I heard about the story on one of my fishing boards out here, and decided to jump on some national boards and see if anyone was talking about it yet.  Let me say this........ This is a very believable story.  These guys are well known around the area as hard core fisherman, and do hold some of their own records.  From what we have gathered, the fish was foul-hooked, and it WAS weighed, photo'd, videotaped, and released.  They did not measure it.  As someone said earlier, I believe that they know deep down that it wouldn't be certified due to the foul-hooking.  Also, being avid bass fisherman, they have caught thousands of bass, they might have no need to keep a fish that big, unless they know it's a record.  Why take that fish out of the ecosystem if you know that it most likely won't stand???  I think they'll take their chances on catching it again.

I can't speak for sure, it's speculation on my part.  However, i speak from someone who lives here and reads about their catches on a normal basis.  And it's not like this lake has crept up on anyone, so it's not a huge suprise......  Here's a little blurb.....

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June 2003 Jed Dickerson of Carlsbad caught a 21 lb. 11.2 Oz. hawg. Dixon has proven to be an incubator for big bass as proven by local fishing celebrity Mike Long who caught a 20 lb. 12 oz. bass during April of 2001. Before this huge fish there were 5 other bass over 16 lbs. caught during spring 2001, 2 of which were over 17 lbs. This is not to mention many other 'teen' sized bass from previous years. Despite the sheer numbers of large bass, Dixon has kept a low-profile on its bass fishery as San Diego has at least 6 other lakes that are better known for their bass fishing. Dixon is better known for it's winter trout fishing and summer nighttime catfishing which can both be phenomenal at times. For a breakdown of species, catch limits and how to fish for them at Dixon click here.

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[5bass]

Just copied and pasted this from another website:

From one of the eyewitnesses,

"My brother Dan and I went up there very early this morning for the purpose of fishing the same fish and we were the first car in line at the gate so we thought we were set but when we got to the spot Jed and Mac and their friend were already there on the fish since they camped that night they had the first oppurtunity to get the fish.

So there was nothing else we could do but have fun and watch.

It took them a little over an hour but finally Mac had it hooked and it went straight to deep water until it slowly came up to the surface and thats when we all noticed it was hooked on the upper side of the back and then they netted it.

They weighed it on their berkley boga grip style digital weigher and it came out to be 24-15, then to 25-00 and stayed at that weight.

They took some pictures and video of the fish held by their friend and had her back in the water and let her go and she went straight down to the deep water.

I don't know where bill hutchenson got the info that they got it on a swimbait because it was actually caught on a jig.

The perfect reason for releasing the fish was their 100% belief in catch-and-release and with the fact that it was foul hooked.

There you go guys I laid it out for you.

Congrats to those 3 guys who finally did it.

I just really appreciate the fact that my brother and I were 2 of the 6 people that saw the world record fish in real life. We both even got to touch it!

If you were on a fish of that size that goes nose down on your bait where the giant is covering sight of your jig and you think it ate it are you going to take a risk of missing that one and only possible bite you'll ever get from that fish? Nope.

Steve Barnett."

[RoLo]

A hand-held scale does not qualify as a "certified scale". In addition, to qualify as a world record

the fish must be verified by a biologist. Sounds like another Hee-Haw bass to me.

Roger

[Valascus]

Here are the rules from IGFA. The first link is a link directly to their rulebook and the second link takes you directly to the IGFA's homepage.

http://www.igfa.org/BookRule2004.pdf'>http://www.igfa.org/BookRule2004.pdf

http://www.igfa.org/

Just reading the rulebook myself, I don't think that this will stick as a world record. I don't think they will have enough info. As far as the foul hooking goes...in the book it says that a world record fish will be disqualified if it is INTENTIONALLY foul hooked. I don't think this fish was intentionally foul hooked...he was probably just doing his fishing thing and snagged the beast on accident. But then again with so little informatin that these guys seem to have submitted I don't think there is anyway for them to prove the fish wasn't intentionally foul hooked.

[ball_coach_1]

Hmmm...I look forward to the the guys who caught it to make a public statement.

I am going to be trusting of the story until proven not to be true, but no matter what, officially the world record is STILL what it has been for 70+ years.

[Raul]

Let me say this........ This is a very believable story.  These guys are well known around the area as hard core fisherman, and do hold some of their own records.

Let me remember something.........about a year or year and a half ago a guy claimed to have caught the mother lord of all basses in one of those California lakes that surround San Diego, he took pictures of the fish, applied for the record and later his claim was dismissed, not enougn information, something "fishy" with the way the fish looked in the pictures, something "fishy" about the witnesses, etc, etc, etc., was this guy some sort of something that you could qualify as a cheater ? actually, if you consider the fact that the guy is the holder of several IGFA line class WRs you could barely qualify the guy as a cheater and later it turns out to be that the IGFA found out that the guy actually cheated by adding weight to the fish.

So as you can see: Caesar 's wife not only has to be honest, she must look like she 's honest too.

Someone looking after the holly grail of bass fishing I very aware of all the gray areas that the book has like Velascus just pointed out: in the book it says that a world record fish will be disqualified if it is INTENTIONALLY foul hooked.

Man if I 'm out there fishing and hook what seems to be the holly grail you can bet that I 'm going to read the book.

[KYbass1276]

only time will tell with this one. But it's not looking good :-? hopefully there will be some pics soon

[j-bass]

Just another reason other states and companies should learn from and initiate programs like Budweiser Sharelunker Program.  I garauntee that if that bass was caught in TX, the matter wouldn't be up for debate....plus the bonus of that bass going for breeding purposes

[Mattlures]

Here are the pics

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

It was definatly caught and is legit. the problem is it was foul hooked. It probably wont be recognized but it IS the biggest bess ever caught period!!!

[Guest avid]

Nobody is releasing a world record bass.  I don't care who certifies it and how many pictures you have.  That is a million dollar fish.  There is a fortune to be made with it.  I mean the actual skin mount.  The average joe basser is not going to pay his hard earned bucks to see a piece of plastic.

Removing that big female will do NO DAMAGE to a healthy fishery like Dixon or any of the likely candidates for the next world record.  

Let's get real guys.

[Captain Cali]

Here are the pics

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

It was definatly caught and is legit. the problem is it was foul hooked. It probably wont be recognized but it IS the biggest bess ever caught period!!!

:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

I have to go now...

[Captain Cali]

Nobody is releasing a world record bass.  I don't care who certifies it and how many pictures you have.  That is a million dollar fish.  There is a fortune to be made with it.  I mean the actual skin mount.  The average joe basser is not going to pay his hard earned bucks to see a piece of plastic.

Removing that big female will do NO DAMAGE to a healthy fishery like Dixon or any of the likely candidates for the next world record.  

Let's get real guys.

Avid, I don't mean any disrespect but you don't understand the mindset of these guys. 100% Catch & Release. It does not matter.

[Valascus]

Man...I just don't understand why in the heck you don't take the measurements of a beast like that...no length...no girth...just weight. That is an awesome pic. That fish just don't look natural to me though...freak of nature. But I bet it would put up a fight for the ages.

[5bass]

Aside from the obviously HUGE belly,look at how thick the tail is and how big it's eye is.

[roadwarrior]

If the the scales used to weight the fish prove to be accurate (certified), that's the biggest bass ever caught whether IFGA certifies it or not. I would not have released it, but I have so much admiration for anyone that would.

MacWeakley, You da MAN!

[bassnleo]

In all of the articles I have read on this fish, not one says that anyone has yet applied to the IGFA for WR status. I think the story is real, these guys hunt big fish and have proven in the past they can catch 'em.  Why did they release it? Because they know the rules and know it would not have been certified because it was not hooked fair. Look at all the past records they have caught, the fish were taken to certified scales and officially documented.  IMO they released it knowing it was the WR, it wouldn't be certified because it wasn't hooked within the rules, they are going to try for it again in the coming days.