List of the biggest documented bass ever caught

[Mattlures]

List of the biggest documented bass ever caught.

Note this list is about 2 years old but is much more accurate than any other list I have ever seen posted. Do you guys notice one guy that stands out? Count how many times you read the name Mike Long. Also since this list he has caugh a 19.11 out of Mission Viejo a 21.5 lber and at leat two more 17lbers that I have seen the pics of and that have been weighed in at the docks.

There have been others caught by Mike and diferent guys that were not documented That are not on this list

BTW this is not my list I just though I wouuld share.

Table 1: All-Time Largest Documented Bass

Rank Pounds Location State Angler Date

1 22.25 Montgomery Lake Georgia George Perry 6/2/32

2 22.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/12/91

3 21.75 Lake Castaic California Mike Arujo 3/5/91

4 21.70 Dixon Reservoir California Jed Dickerson 5/31/03

5 21.19 Lake Casitas California Ray Easley 3/4/80

6 21.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/9/90

7 20.94 Lake Miramar California David Zimerlee 6/23/73

8 20.86 Lake Castaic California Leo Torres 2/4/90

9 20.75 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 4/27/01

10 20.25 Lake Hodges California Gene Dupras 5/30/85

10 20.25 Lake Miramar California Johnny Garduno 3/25/90

12 20.13 Big Fish Lake Florida Fritz Friebel May 1923

13 19.88 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004

14 19.63 Lake Baccarac Mexico Bruce Knutsen 1/17/93

15 19.50 Lake Miramar California Keith Gunsauls 3/7/88

15 19.50 Lake Casitas California Randy Crabtree 4/9/02

15 19.50 Dixon Reservoir California Mac Weakley 5/20/03

18 19.40 Ikehara Dam Japan Kazuya Shimada 4/22/03

19 19.25 Lake Miramar California Chris Brandt 3/22/98

20 19.19 Lake Wohlford California Steve Beasley 2/3/86

20 19.19 Lake Morena California Ardon Hanline 2/17/87

22 19.06 Lake Miramar California Sandy DeFresco 3/14/88

23 19.04 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 1/8/89

24 19.03 Success Lake California Larry Kerns 1/27/01

25 19.00 Lake Tarpon Florida Riley Witt 6/21/61

26 18.94 Lake Isabella California Keith Harper April 1984

27 18.86 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 2/12/88

28 18.81 St. Johns River Florida Buddy Wright 4/12/87

28 18.81 Lake Isabella California Joe Weaver Feb. 1984

30 18.75 Lower Otay Lake California Bob Eberly 3/9/80

30 18.75 San Vicente Lake California James Steurgeon 2/26/81

30 18.75 Lake Castaic California Manny Arujo 1/25/91

30 18.75 Lake Kaweah California Nai Seathan 3/15/01

34 18.70 San Pablo California Victor Barfield 3/22/01

35 18.69 Lake Casitas California Bill Beckum 1/15/80

36 18.63 San Vicente California Doug Crandall 1979

37 18.62 Delta California Galen Jensen 2/10/02

38 18.56 San Vicente California Bobby Sandberg 1976

38 18.56 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 1/27/92

38 18.56 Don Pedro California Rod Martin 4/9/03

41 18.55 Lake Murray California Mike Long Dec. 2001

42 18.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004

42 18.25 Lower Otay California Unknown March 1980

44 18.18 Lake Fork Texas Barry St. Clair 1/24/92

45 18.15 Natchez State Park Mississippi Unknown 12/31/92

46 18.13 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003

46 18.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002

48 18.10 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998

48 18.10 Lake Murray California Mike Long Feb. 1999

50 18.00 Lake Perris California Will Steel 12/29/02

50 18.00 San Pablo California Rob Belloni 5/3/03

50 18.00 Lake Murray California Mike Long 2000

50 18.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2002

54 17.95 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999

55 17.75 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1982

56 17.69 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985

57 17.67 Lake Fork Texas Mark Stevenson 11/26/86

58 17.64 Lake Fork Texas Stan Moss 4/1/89

59 17.63 Lake Fork Texas Jerry New 8/28/90

60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000

60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2001

60 17.50 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1979

63 17.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003

63 17.25 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985

63 17.25 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999

66 17.19 Lower Otay California Unknown Jan. 1985

67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998

67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999

69 17.11 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999

70 17.08 Lake Fork Texas Troy Coates 2/26/91

71 17.06 Lake Miramar California Mike Long 2000

71 17.06 San Vicente California Unknown Feb. 1979

73 17.05 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000

74 16.89 Lake Fork Texas Bryan Turner 2/8/93

75 16.88 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1981

76 16.75 Lake Fork Texas Steve Trepkus 3/8/90

77 16.63 Lake Fork Texas Flo O'Brien 2/28/99

77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000

77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999

80 16.56 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1980

81 16.54 Lake Fork Texas Bill Reed 2/27/91

82 16.50 San Vicente California Unknown May, 1981

83 16.45 Lake Murray California Mike Long March, 2001

84 16.44 Lake Fork Texas Chris Adams 3/10/96

84 16.44 Lake Miramar California Unknown April 1973

86 16.41 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000

87 16.38 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999

88 16.25 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1982

88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown Nov. 1979

88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown March 1982

88 16.25 Sutherland California Mike Long April 2001

92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1979

92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown March 1981

94 16.13 Gibbons Creek Texas Troy Johnson 1/15/88

94 16.13 Sutherland California Unknown April 1989

94 16.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000

97 16.12 Lake Fork Texas Jim Harrell 3/22/02

98 16.06 Lake Fork Texas Tom Hallum 3/9/88

98 16.06 Lake Hodges California Unknown April 1985

100 16.04 Lake Fork Texas Gasper Cardinale 2/29/92

101 16.02 Possum Kingdom Texas Scott Tongate 10/13/89

102 16.01 Caddo Texas John Merck 4/13/92

102 16.00 Cuyamaca California Mike Long 2002

102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002

102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999

102 16.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2001

[Catt]

Hey dude you stopped about 100,000 short of my name  :

[Grey Wolf]

Looks like I'm going to have to move .

[KenDammit28]

one name that sticks out?

California

[roadwarrior]

I'm not bashing George Perry, but isn't it strange that Georgia only makes the list one time? In theory, it seems like a state would have to produce a number of 18, 19 and 20 lb bass if it were to produce a 22 lb 4 oz fish. Interesting, hun?

[Troutfisher]

That is weird....  

[Catt]

Not to high jack mattlures topic but I think Perry's record was God's way of telling us we don't know anything about his creations. While California will hold the record I believe another one will once again come from some where out in left field by some amateur like Perry's keeping us humble.

[Lane]

IMO, they should throw out George Perry's record for SEVERAL reasons! Bob Crupi should

hold the World Record. Landing and certifying TWO of the top 10 bass of all time is NO SMALL

feat! Mike Long is up there with Hannon in my book, they are in a league of their own! Most

people don't realize how hard it is to, hook, land and certify these HUGE double digit bass as

many times as these men have done it. Most of us that live in trophy largemouth country are

still trying to hook and LAND a 10lber! Thanks Matt for posting those stats!

[Daniel My Brother]

Babe Ruth's homer record stood for so long that the number 714 still has significant meaning to baseball fans. The same goes for Perry. Who would have thought so many would get so close, yet no has been able to better it.

I'm sure the record will fall eventually, and when it does I hope she's caught by a BassResource.com member using a Mattlure's swimbait. But even if the new record smashes the old one, 22lbs 4oz will always be remembered.

[cart7t]

I'm not bashing George Perry, but isn't it strange that Georgia only makes the list one time? In theory, it seems like a state would have to produce a number of 18, 19 and 20 lb bass if it were to produce a 22 lb 4 oz fish. Interesting, hun?

How many people back then even cared about a world record bass? IIRC, Perry entered the fish in a competition to win a rod n reel. Then he ate the fish. ;D

Interesting. Of the 12 fish over 20lbs, only 2 have been caught since 2000 even though many are fishing for them.

[KenDammit28]

Is it safe to say that California can turn your average "trophy hunter" into a legend?  I count 80 out of however many fish are on that list..maybe 110 or so?  that came from California waters.

Absurd.

[JiggaMan512]

I'm not bashing George Perry, but isn't it strange that Georgia only makes the list one time? In theory, it seems like a state would have to produce a number of 18, 19 and 20 lb bass if it were to produce a 22 lb 4 oz fish. Interesting, hun?

Im too lazy to research the in-depth side of the Perry Story/Legend, so heres a few to throw out there. How old was he when this "happened"?? was he by himself? Whats the Mont. Lake record since his "catch"? (like i said, i dont know the story much at ALL, so if any of these questions sound ridiculous, dont go crazy on me) Is he still alive? if so, How old is he? if not, when and how did he die? What did he catch the fish on? (if anyone has a very similar pic of the lure, please feel free to pm it to me) what lb. test was on his reel? What kinda of reel was it? rod? has a BASS masters tourney been held on this lake? if not, why the @#$ not? how big is this lake? has anyone on the forum fished this lake before?

P.S. if any moderators feel that i high-jacked this thread from the original writer of the topic, feel free to delete it or move it to its own post, but i apologize if this is VERY off topic of the thread.

[KenDammit28]

thats a pic(I dunno how recently) of Montgomery Lake(which isn't really a lake, just an oxbow).  My understanding of how that body of water got there is that the Ocmulgee River changed courses and left this pool of water behind.  

This picture probably looks more like it did during George's time

He's not alive..I think he died around 30 years ago?  In the 70's I think as the result of his plane crashing into a hillside.  He wasn't alone...his fishing partner, Jack Page, was with him according to Perry.  The bait was a Creek Chub of some kind but the actual lure is up for debate.

[Lane]

Brushpile,

George Perry is dead, killed in a plane crash. There are NO pictures of George Perry

with, "THE" bass, at least none that have surfaced at this point. BASSMASTERS mag

presented a picture of a YOUNG boy holding a large bass. Was that THE bass? There

are more questions than answers regarding the Perry bass, questions that will never

be answered.

I would not consider Bob Crupi or Mike Long, "average trophy hunters", but to each their

own. There is a thread on a Texas forum regarding the possiblility of 20lb class bass exsisting

and being caught in Texas that is being discussed right now. There is at least ONE documented

20lb bass that was found dead ( as a result of the LMBV) here in Texas. Meanwhile, California

still holds the record for numbers of 20lb class bass.

[KenDammit28]

if the average thing was a reference to what I said....I definitely don't think that Mike Long is average, he's a stud.  I was just saying that I wouldn't have a problem saying you could take the average trophy hunter to California waters and their Pounds per fish would probably increase by about 3lbs.

[RoLo]

Get a load of Mike Long!!!

Mr. Long boated 27% of the 100 largest bass in the world.

Think about that feat for a moment, Mike boated more than "one out of every 4 bass" in the top 100 8-)

Roger

[senile1]

The record is what it is.  No one who doubts it's validity is going to be able to change it anyway.  Like RW, I have wondered about the fact that there are no other Georgia fish of record that are even close to the 20 lb mark.  But I don't want to change the world record just because I speculate that it may not be true.  It could very well be true.  The bass in the picture that is said to be George Perry's bass was a real monster and someone caught it.  And it was in Georgia.  I found a thread from last March - May where we had a big discussion about this prompted by Wheatley's 25 lb foul-hooked fish.  I've posted it below.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1143415295/29#29

California looks like the place to be.  

[roadwarrior]

Get a load of Mike Long!!!

Mr. Long boated 27% of the 100 largest bass in the world.

Think about that feat for a moment, Mike boated more than "one out of every 4 bass" in the top 100 8-)

Roger

That gentlemen, is almost impossible to believe! Matt's list is truely an eye-opener.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Wow what a list. It/s been boring arund here the last 2 days since Baugher left so let's start up again. I think MIKE LONG should be tested for steroids!

[Guest the_muddy_man]

IS Fish Chris on here anywhere , Is that Chris Brandt?

[KenDammit28]

the average weight of a Cali fish on that list is 18.08lbs!  

I wonder how many of the fish are repeat fish...any, ya think?

[senile1]

IS Fish Chris on here anywhere , Is that Chris Brandt?

I was wondering the same thing, Muddy.

Get a load of Mike Long!!!

Mr. Long boated 27% of the 100 largest bass in the world.

Think about that feat for a moment, Mike boated more than "one out of every 4 bass" in the top 100 Shocked  Cool

Roger

That gentlemen, is almost impossible to believe! Matt's list is truely an eye-opener.

Indeed, can you imagine what it would be like to hook that many fish from 16 to over 20 lbs?  He should create a workout video.  :

[Randall]

I'm not bashing George Perry, but isn't it strange that Georgia only makes the list one time? In theory, it seems like a state would have to produce a number of 18, 19 and 20 lb bass if it were to produce a 22 lb 4 oz fish. Interesting, hun?

Not to discount the fact that California is still going to be the State that has the most bass in this size range but there have been some caught in GA  eighteen and under that I know of would have made the list but were not certified since the people didn't really care about making the list. I know there are probably some in Texas, Florida, Mexico etc. caught that aren't on the list as well. Now if someone in GA catches the new WR I am sure the person catching it will want to have it certified as such. My point is that just more people in California are certifing the bass after it is caught while people in other states are not going to unless it is a record.

[Mattlures]

No list that I have seen is current and complete this is just the best on that I know of. It was written by Terri Battisti a well know outdoor writer who has been tracking huge bass catches. There have been other 20 lbers caught. Mac's 25 and Mikes 21'5 were not on the list becuase they were caught just last year and the list is not current. Mike Long would have at least 5 more fish on that list with 2 being in the top ten if it were up to date. Fish Chris Has an 18+ and Iam not sure why he is not on there, maybe he caught just after this list was published. Supermat , Matt Allen has caught the same fish as Fish chris and it wieghed 17+ so yes there are a few fish that made the list more than once. Macs 25.1 lber is also Mike Longs 20.75 and Jed's 21. California has produced several fdish over 17lbs in the last 2 years that are not on here either. I would love to see the current list. It would even be More Mike long dominated with 3 fish in the top 15.

Also something else is starting to happen out here. A lot of guys are keeping quiet when they get a monster. They dont want the pressure at their lake so only the "in croud" hears about it. If you guys would like to read the whole article here it is

No list that I have seen is current and complete this is just the best on that I know of. It was written by Terri Battisti a well know outdoor writer who has been tracking huge bass catches. There have been other 20 lbers caught. Mac's 25 and Mikes 21'5 were not on the list becuase they were caught just last year and the list is not current. Mike Long would have at least 5 more fish on that list with 2 being in the top ten if it were up to date. Fish Chris Has an 18+ and Iam not sure why he is not on there, maybe he caught just after this list was published. Supermat , Matt Allen has caught the same fish as Fish chris and it wieghed 17+ so yes there are a few fish that made the list more than once. Macs 25.1 lber is also Mike Longs 20.75 and Jed's 21. California has produced several fdish over 17lbs in the last 2 years that are not on here either. I would love to see the current list. It would even be More Mike long dominated with 3 fish in the top 15.

Also something else is starting to happen out here. A lot of guys are keeping quiet when they get a monster. They dont want the pressure at their lake so only the "in croud" hears about it. If you guys would like to read the whole article here it is

http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/library/view.html?id=2544

[Raul]

Only problem with that list is that only applies to the US. 99.999% of big bass caught in Mexico are never recorded ( lots of 16, 17 & 18 pounders ), it 's the lack of infrastructure and education to keep accurate records.

Only exception:

14 19.63 Lake Baccarac Mexico Bruce Knutsen 1/17/93

Last year 's 19.19 out of Baccarac is not included in the list.