Why Assume the current WR is a Lie??

[Rattletrap]

I don't believe I have personally attacked any posters on here. I have made my opinions on guys that recently caught the big bass. If I have offended anybody with my over zealousness I apologize. I'm just proud of Georgia and all it's records.

[Chris]

That quote is from a BASS publication and at the time it was originally printed Ray Scott still owned BASS.

[Rattletrap]

Thanks Chris for the info.

[cart7t]

Thanks for posting that Chris, I was going to dig to see if I still had that issue but couldn't find it.  So, Perry's partner and obviously a postal worker were present to witness the weight on a postal scale (which for the time was very accurate).  Seems to me the case is closed.  Unless someone can produce a witness that disputes the catch, saw him snag the fish, saw him illegally net or otherwise take the fish from the water with a method other than pole and line I'd suggest this WR question on the Perry fish is closed.  

I'm sorry these guys didn't catch the record.  Technically, had they followed Cali state law, they would've released the fish immediately rather than drag it back to the dock to weigh it later. Then we'd have never known what that fish weighed.  

[Rattletrap]

If you live in Cali you have to be ready at all times. Your chances of hanging a monster are pretty good. 15-18lbs can be had. 10lb plus is a monster for me.

[VaBass80]

My only question is if he was really after the money and fame of the WR bass why would he openly admit it was snagged.  The three friends could state that the fish was legally hooked and there would be no constroversy.  Its not the easiest thing to snag with a single pointed hook from a jig, i'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Rattletrap]

My only question is if he was really after the money and fame of the WR bass why would he openly admit it was snagged. The three friends could state that the fish was legally hooked and there would be no constroversy. Its not the easiest thing to snag with a single pointed hook from a jig, i'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

He had to admit it. There were too many witnesses that say they saw where the hook was located and knew it was foul hooked. He did the right thing by releasing it. A fish that big filled with roe is pretty fragile. You have to make sure you weigh, measure and release pretty quick or you will kill her.

[rboat]

Personally, I have grown up with this as the world record bass. My father started me fishing when I was very young and I remember hearing about this record. I think you have to remember the times. 1932 was a very simple time when people had to work together and everyone knew each other. No one locked their doors and crime was hardly known. Mr. Perry was trying to catch some dinner for his family. He caught a very large fish and was as proud as any of us would have been. So he showed it off to several people and even had it weighed. He was not after any record and was not trying to cheat anybody. In fact, he probably was talked into submitting his catch. To me, it stands as legit. There are many things in life you just have to believe and and trust in without pictures or proof. Maybe it was a striper or some kind of hybrid, but to me, as a guy who loves this sport, it is the world record until a bigger one is certified by current standards.

Say what you want this just my personal feelings. Thanks.

[VaBass80]

Can you show me a link where it says that?  All the articles i've read it makes it sound like it was an self omission.

[Rattletrap]

Mr. Perry was trying to catch some dinner for his family. He caught a very large fish and was as proud as any of us would have been. So he showed it off to several people and even had it weighed. He was not after any record and was not trying to cheat anybody. In fact, he probably was talked into submitting his catch.

1932. Why would he lie about his dinner. He was just a simple man out fishing for dinner. WR's weren't on his mind. Fish and gritz were on his mind.  

[5bass]

Can you show me a link where it says that? All the articles i've read it makes it sound like it was an self omission.

The first article I read stated that the guys were apparently real close to a dock and there were several on-lookers watching Mac as he fished for it.Those people clearly saw the foul hooked white jig when the fish came up.

[Rattletrap]

Basscenter showed a video interview of some people that said they saw it foul hooked plain as day. One of the witnesses even yelled at them, "it's foul hooked, it's foul hooked".

[Rattletrap]

Can you show me a link where it says that? All the articles i've read it makes it sound like it was an self omission.

Has A New World Record Bass Been Caught?

A possible new world record largemouth bass was caught in California Monday, March 20.

Mac Weakley of Carlsbad caught the fish off the bed at Dixon Lake. He and two friends have been fishing for this bass every bedding season for the past couple of years. He was interview by another site about the catch.

The bass has a distinctive mark on her and is probably the same bass caught two times in the past, when she weighed 20 to 21 pounds. The bass weighed 25 pounds, 1 ounce on hand held uncertified scales Monday.

As always, there is controversy surrounding this catch. The fishermen had bought a camping permit to get ahead of other fishermen in line so they could be on the water first. They set up on the fish after watching someone else fish for it on Sunday. Rumor has it they tried to pay that fisherman to leave it alone and let them fish for it.

Observers on the bank said they watched Weakley set the hook five times before hooking the bass, and it was foul hooked in the side, not in the mouth. The fish was photographed and released before Game and Fish officials could arrive.

An observer said the three men in the boat landed the bass near the dock after fighting it for a while, then went to the middle of 70 acre lake to discuss what to do. They then came back to the dock and released the bass. They did not measure it before releasing it, and did not try to get certified scales to weigh it.

For these and other reasons the San Diego Times says the fish will not be submitted for a record. This article also has a picture of the fish.

George Perry caught the current world record bass 74 years ago in Georgia. That fish was not photographed but a replica was made and pictures of it are on a sign in the small town in Georgia where it was caught.

The new world record has been an object of fantasy for bass fishemen for years, with some saying the fisherman catching it could earn over a million dollars from the catch.

Field and Stream, another site and FLW both have more information on this catch.

Largemouth bass are not native to California. They have been stocked there for years and seem to grow bigger and faster there than in their native range. It helps if lakes like Dixon have trout in them, bass love to feed on trout.

Some have said non native fish should not be considered for records, but that is not in the International Game Fish Association rules.

[VaBass80]

Thank you for the link, all the articles i've read didn't describe the observers account, it does give better insight to the days catch.  

[Guest avid]

I seem to recall when I bought my boga grip scale, that I could have had it certified by IGFA.  IF I remember correctly I would have to have sent it to them, with a fee and they would tell you how many ounces to add or subtract and that that would be a certified weight.  Why would guys who are catching huge bass and have an excellent chance of breaking the wr not have their own scales certified?  These are some of the things, like a rope stringer that just don't make sense for guys in this league.  

[Rattletrap]

I seem to recall when I bought my boga grip scale, that I could have had it certified by IGFA. IF I remember correctly I would have to have sent it to them, with a fee and they would tell you how many ounces to add or subtract and that that would be a certified weight. Why would guys who are catching huge bass and have an excellent chance of breaking the wr not have their own scales certified? These are some of the things, like a rope stringer that just don't make sense for guys in this league.

I here guys saying they have a IGFA certified Boga Grip. I thought they came pre-certified.

[Glenn]

Perhaps of interest:

http://bassresource.com/fishing/certify.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/be_prepared.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/Record_fish.html

Guess they should've come here first.  

[Rattletrap]

Thank you for the link, all the articles i've read didn't describe the observers account, it does give better insight to the days catch.

Would they have admitted it if no one was around? We will never know that one. Witnesses will usually keep you honest. The boat trip to the middle of the lake to discuss the issue is kind of fishy. They could have been discussing if they can get away with. Like I said before, prestige and money make some people do the wrong thing. I'm glad they decided to do the right thing.

[Rattletrap]

Perhaps of interest:

http://bassresource.com/fishing/certify.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/be_prepared.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/Record_fish.html

Guess they should've come here first.

Yep. The bottom line, it's always up to the fishermen. We do have to be prepared for anything. WR, boat safety, bad weather...etc....

[Captain Cali]

Perhaps of interest:

http://bassresource.com/fishing/certify.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/be_prepared.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/Record_fish.html

Guess they should've come here first.  

That was one of there mistakes! ;D

[Guest avid]

Well as usual, BassResource.com comes through with flying colors.  Glenns first selection answers the question about certification.  No, the boga's do not come pre certified but I can tell you that I have tested mine on various known weights (5lb bag of sugar etc.) and it is unacannily accurate.  So you see, it just doesn't make sense for guys like the Cali WR hunters, who have caught huge bass already NOT to have a certified scale.  I don't get it.  Maybe Mattlures, as our resident big bass guru can shed some light on this.

Oh, one final thing.  An accurate scale is guaranteed to shrink your fish.  I don't know how it does it, but all my five pounders weigh only 3.5 on the boga.  ;D

[earthworm77]

Avid, lol.

[Chris]

1974 Bassmaster Fishing Annual page 12

(In his own words)

Question: What did you do after you landed the big bass?

Perry: We quit fishing. That was the only fish we had caught all day. We just pulled the boat up on the bank, put the bass under a burlap sack in the back of the pick-up and drove to Helena, Ga

Question: is that where you weighed it?

Perry: Yes. When we got to the store some guys showed up and said, "Let's weigh and measure that thing and get it in the contest." So we did. It weighed 22lbs. 4oz. and had been out of the water for about two hours. It was 32 1/2 inches long and had a girth of 28 1/2 inches.

Question: What contest were they refering to?

Perry: That was the Field and Stream" fishing contest that involved several districts, like Southern region, etc., for fish like black bass. Someone got an entry blank from a magazine right there in the store. I filled it out, and it was witnessed and signed by a notary public, a Mr. McArthur. I never thought much more about it. Later  on I was notified that I had won in the black bass category and received a tremendous prize of $75 in merchandise to be selected from "Field and Stream".

Question: Were you notified at that time that the bass was a world record?

Perry: No-no. I didn't even realize anything like that. I was just glad to win what I did; $75 was a lot of money in those days. Seems like it was later on, considerably later, that they (Field and Stream) advised me that it was a world record.

Question: What did you get with the gift certificate?

Perry: a Browning automatic shotgun that listed for $44.85, some shells, fishing equipment and some outdoor clothes. Like I said, that was a lot of money. We were smack in the middle of a depression. We could buy a pound of bacon for 4 1/2 cents, coffee for 12 cents a pound, loaf break for 5 cents. The value of money has changed so much you hardly think in terms of dollars and cents about things back then.

Question: What else have you received as a result of the record fish?

Perry: Well, a lot of phone calls and correspondence from all over, even Alaska. I made several recordings and tapes for newspapers, radio, and TV. Some advertising outfit in Miami sent me a Pfleuger Supreme reel for a little statement I made for them. I caught the bass on a Pfluegar reel and a True Temper rod. I can't say I have received another thing. Financially speaking that $75 was it. Reckon that would be worth about $80 today (1974)

Question: What do you think that bass would be worth to you today, If you caught had caught it a year ago? (1973)

Perry: Possibly $10,000, maybe considerable more.

Question: what did you do with the record bass?

Perry: We ate it! That's what a fish is for, to eat.

Question: What is the next largest bass you have caught?

Perry: I caught one that weighed 15 lbs. 14 oz. about four years after I caught the big one. I caught it right here in Glynn County in a small creek that runs into the Altamaha River.

Question: You've read about the 20 lb. 15oz. transplanted Florida strain bass caught in California last June. What's your opinion about bass transplants, cross-breeding and so called "Super Bass" programs.

Perry: Quite frankly, I feel that is not natural happening. It sounds like they are pen-feeding a lot of bass to me. A record bass, or a record anything, should be taken in it's natural state. With all this replanting and crossbreeding, you can produce almost anything you want to. Only Nature should be allowed to produce anything for a record. In my opinion, these Super Bass will not, does not, and never will compare to the bass I caught in natural surroundings in Montgomery Lake. I certainly think if a record bass is caught it should be caught in the natural waters of its habitation, on a hook and line.

Question: That brings up another interesting controversy. Your world record is an established, accepted fact. But since bass fishing has grown to such tremendous proportions and since so much can be gained in prestige, and money the certifying of state and a possible world record is even more important. Almost every state has its own rules and requirements. A few have no record establishing  procedures at all. The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) see the immediate need to establish a nation wide single system for recognizing, certifying and appropriately rewarding catches of new record. Other than checking the mechanical minimums-length, girth, weight, method  caught etc.,- does the possibility of administering a polygraph or lie-detector test to a person claiming the record, under strictly controlled conditions, seem to be in order?

Perry: You have a point, such a method for establishing a new record would remove any doubt. I would certainly suggest that some central agency, co-operating with the state game and fish departments se up a national and state resords system for establishing new records, particularly in the event of a world record to assure catching the fish in an accepted sporting manner. Sportsmen never used to have to worry about such things. Trophies were for your own personal pleasure. Everything has changed so. I had a little ol' 14-ft boat that probably cost me 30 cents worth of material and built my first one myself. We've come from the 59 cent rod and 19 cent line I had years ago to $5000 worth of equipment now to go fishing. I guess bass fishing has come a ling way, though sometimes I wonder.

By Terry Drace Bassmaster staff writter 1974

[Rattletrap]

Good read.  

[Chris]

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