Giant Bass II

[N Florida Mike]

I have to lean towards Tom’s opinion on the Perry bass. Lots of loose ends that will never be tied up with that one.

As far as Dottie, california rules said it didnt count, but my understanding is that it was legit under International  gamefish rules had it been confirmed. I dont know about other states but it would have been very hard for me to not say heck with cali rules. Very commendable what he did, not wanting a tainted record.

As far as a new record coming from Florida, Im sure theres record fish here . @Captain Phil Im not too up on lake Apopka. I though it was extremely polluted and the bass all died in it? I heard it's making a comeback due to the state spending millions of dollars on it, but my thinking is how could there be a world record fish in it this soon after the re-nourishment?

I believe there is likely a world record or at least close to one in kingsley lake or Rodman. I know of an 18 + being caught in the st Johns. Ive also heard of a huge bass being caught in Ocean pond on a live speckled perch. For unknown reasons the girl that caught it did not get it registered. She did get the head mounted ( I saw the pic) . the taxidermist said the biggest glass eye he could get fell through the fish’s eye socket.He said based on that and the huge size of the mouth and head his opinion was the fish could have weighed 24 pounds. I saw all this in a Florida Sportsman magazine, including the head pic. You could have fit a childs head in the mouth , it was that big.

I have tried and tried but cannot find the article.As I recall , the pic was on the front cover of the magazine. Late 80s or nineties.

[garroyo130]

On 6/4/2009 at 5:03 AM, Catt said:

My personal opinion is that a rank amateur fishing in an almost forgotten body of water with a simple technique will break the world record.

I believe this as well. 

 

About a year ago I was out fishing and was throwing a #4 Mepps spinner. To my surprise I hooked a hybrid sunfish. To this day, I still believe that it may have been state record (granted Texas record is 2lbs). Anyhow, I was not able to take pictures and simply released the fish. Needless to say upon returning home, the wife and children responded with the usual "oh you and your fisherman's tales" talk. 

 

I decided to do some research and found that this small unassuming pond in Austin, TX shared many of the same features as Ketona (the record bluegill body of water). 

 

- Old quarry with abundant limestone (limestone helps sunfish grow?)

- Steep sides

- Spring fed

- Limited fishing pressure 

 

I believe that conditions play a huge role in the growth of fish to record sizes, possibly moreso than genetics. Although its hard to argue with Butch Brown when he talks about the spot that bass have (1:03:51).

 

 

BTW im surprised this podcast hasn't been linked to this thread. Butch talks about some good observations including moon visibility and trophy fish. 

[Captain Phil]

Back in the fifties, Lake Apopka was known as one of the best bass lakes in America.  The 17 pound bass on the early Heddon lure boxes came from Lake Apopka.  I have written extensively on this lake, so I won't rehash all that has been said.  Google the lake and you will find all you need to know.  In my opinion, Lake Apopka is not currently a lake anyone would want to fish for fun.   You can fish the lake for days without a hit.  When you get one, it is a large fish.  The shad in this lake are gigantic.  The lake has very little fishing pressure.  Many local Harris Chain tournaments have been won by making the long run to Apopka.  It wouldn't surprise me if a 20 pound plus fish is swimming in this lake.

 

I only know of three 17 pound plus Florida fish caught in recent years.  One was caught in Rodman, one in Lake Rousseau and one in the St. John's River.  I am sure there have been others that were not reported, most likely from private waters.  Here's my buddy Mark with a nice fish from Rousseau.

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Florida's official state record LMB is 17.23 lbs caught 1986 or 24 years ago. The Florida Unaffical record was 20.13 lbs caught in 1923 or 97 years ago. 

California's official state record is 21.75 lbs caught 1991, unoffical is 22.01 lbs caught 1993, both from lake Castaic.

The difference from official and unoffical is the authentication process. Califorina requires examination by a state fishery biologist to determine the species, certified weight, length, girth, legal fishing license, caught legally, no added weight and witness statements. The certification process results in the bass being killed in lieu of released. 

Florida's authentication process may be similar and the reason old records can't be certified.

Lake Hodges produced a pure Florida strain LMB that weighed 20.4 lbs on a verified scale. Hodges doesn't have any trout, only small Threadfin Shad, crappie, bluegill, catfish and bass populations. Planted trout help FLMB gain extra lbs, but it's the genes that allows these bass to grow into giants from a early age and continue into adult age.

Tom 

[Captain Phil]

Twenty pound plus largemouths are a rare occurrence wherever they come from.   The Florida record of 20.13 pounds has been documented by a photo.  The largest bass I have ever seen myself was reported to be 17 pounds.  That fish was caught in an orange grove pond back in the seventies.  Lake Toho produced a 17 pound fish.  That fish is currently mounted and hanging on the wall at the East Lake Fish Camp.  As I remember, there was a documented 19 pound bass caught in Lake Tarpon near Tampa.  Tales of huge bass are common in Florida.   Most of the ten pound bass I see are 8 pounders at best.  

 

 

[WRB]

Lakes Casitas and Castiac are open to the public and run by local city employee's.Back in the hay days of the giant bass populations neither lake has a certified scale to weigh fish. You had to load up your boat, put the bass in the livewell and illegally transport the live fish to a local market with a certified scale. 

We didn't have cell phones with digital cameras or certified digital scales only film camera or hoped someone had a camera. Castiac we went to the Mini Mart and Casitas to the Corner Market, both about 3 miles drive from the lakes.

I kept the local game wardens phone number handy in hopes that I caught a record bass, never did. My 18.6 lb bass from Casitas was weighed by Dossy Monte the local game warden, a month later Ray Easly caught his 21.15 lb state record bass from Casitas in '81. My 19.3 lb bass from Castaic was weighed at the Mini Mart and released back in the lake in March 1993. Mike Agruo already caught the new state record 21.75 lb bass in '91 and  Crupi's 22.01 the same month, my bass didn't raise any eyebrows. Today it's easier to validate catches with cell phones and certified personal digital scales.

Never will achieve my goal of catching a 20 lber, those fish are long gone from the lakes I fish.

Tom

[Guitarfish]

Not with that attitude young man.  I keed, I keed.

[Captain Phil]

I don't believe I have ever hooked a 20 pound bass. However, I do believe a bass of that size exists in Florida.  I spent years fishing the Everglades and Okeechobee.  I never saw a bass over 11 pounds.  When I moved to Central Florida in 1996, I saw lots of them.  The biggest bass I have ever seen weighed in a local tournament was just shy of 14 pounds.  I have hooked bass that straighten out a 4/0 flipping hook. I have been brought to me knees by fish when flipping with 50 pound braid.  That bass tore a path through a patch of maidencane.  A bass like that doesn't make many mistakes.  

[N Florida Mike]

Kingsley lake is not as well known as the other trophy waters. Im not sure what the lake record is there, but I heard from a reliable source of a 16 pounder being caught there. I know of a 15.11 being caught there that was registered in the Florida Trophy catch program recently. I fished it once before public access was gone and we caught 7 dinks.Its more of an offshore type lake. Not much shoreline cover. The lake is very deep for Florida, with 80+ depths. I knew a man that had a place on it who promised to take me ( but never did). He said he did best by trolling a rattletrap at night. It is also a very clear lake, so night fishing makes sense.I had a friend that fished a similar lake at night. He trolled a baby bass crankbait back and forth across a deep hole and caught a 11 1/2 that way. I bet that would work at Kingsley but I have no access. If anyone knows anyone PLEASE let me know...     

 

[DitchPanda]

I love reading your guys stories of all the giants you have seen it caught in Florida and California . The biggest bass I've seen I caught years ago..almost 20 in fact..it was weighed on an old spring scale and it was between 8.5 and 8.75. Then again the Iowa state record is only 10lbs 14oz.

.

[roadwarrior]

There might be another record largemouth in California, but definitely NOT in Florida.

Your best chance for a World Record is a smallmouth from the Tennessee River below

Pickwick Dam.

 

 

 

[Captain Phil]

44 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

There might be another record largemouth in California, but definitely NOT in Florida.

If you are talking about public waters, I agree.  Florida has too much fishing pressure.  There are private lakes in Florida that could hold such a fish.  Some time ago, I was among a small group of anglers who paid to fish a private rock pit. There were only six of us.  The pit was dug for rock to build Disney World.  It was 100 feet deep and full of gigantic bass.  I took seven dozen 12" shiners with me one morning and ran out of bait by 11 AM.  All the fish were released.  

[Junebugman]

On 5/23/2020 at 6:34 PM, soflabasser said:

Things where different in 1932. There where no cell phones to take pictures at that time in history and I doubt George Perry had a camera at that time. His bass was weighed on a postal scale which has to be certified to be used in the post office. Considering the circumstances and rules in 1932 his catch is 100% legitimate and Mr.Perry's 22 pound, 4 ounce bass is still the current official world record largemouth bass.

Id crap my bvds catching a 10 lber!!!!

[roadwarrior]

12 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

If you are talking about public waters, I agree.  Florida has too much fishing pressure.  There are private lakes in Florida that could hold such a fish.  Some time ago, I was among a group of anglers who paid to fish a private rock pit. There were only six of us.  That pit was full of huge fish.  I took seven dozen 12" shiners with me one morning and ran out of bait by 11 AM.  All the fish were released.  

I'm not dissing FL, I recently caught my PB on ToHo (12.4). However, there has never been a reported

bass that approaches a World Record.

[Captain Phil]

5 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I'm not dissing FL, I recently caught my PB on ToHo (12.4). However, there has never been a reported

bass that approaches a World Record.

True.  It takes a very special fish to reach world record size. It's like an eight foot tall human.  Since 1932, bass anglers have been chasing that fish.  It took Florida transplants to make it happen.

[roadwarrior]

23 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

If you are talking about public waters, I agree.  Florida has too much fishing pressure.  There are private lakes in Florida that could hold such a fish.  Some time ago, I was among a group of anglers who paid to fish a private rock pit. There were only six of us.  That pit was full of huge fish.  I took seven dozen 12" shiners with me one morning and ran out of bait by 11 AM.  All the fish were released.  

I'm not dissing FL, I recently caught my PB on ToHo (12.4). However, there has never been a reported

bass that approaches a World Record. 

https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/10-largest-smallmouth-bass-world-records/190547

[Captain Phil]

World record smallmouth are an interesting subject.  I didn't know much about smallmouth bass fishing until the last ten years or so.  I rented a home on Pelee Island in Lake Erie.   I always thought the great lakes were polluted.  Boy was I wrong.  The water is clear and crawling with fat 3-6 pound smallmouths.  I was told this was due to the zebra mussel and goby invasion.  With all the human re engineering stuff these days, I wouldn't be surprised at anything.

[BASS302]

@WRB,

Thanks for bringing back this topic.  I joined BR about 5 years ago, so did not read this topic until now. 

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, Junebugman said:

Id crap my bvds catching a 10 lber!!!!

Lol!

I have caught bass over 10 pounds and hundreds of bass over 5 pounds. It is very fun but I prefer multi species fishing.

[WRB]

5 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

True.  It takes a very special fish to reach world record size. It's like an eight foot tall human.  Since 1932, bass anglers have been chasing that fish.  It took Florida transplants to make it happen.

The IGFA started keeping fresh water all tackle records in 1955. Before that time the Perry bass was a obscure Field & Stream magazine contest winner, grandfathered as the world record bass by the IGFA because the Field & Stream contest was a national contest program. I submitted several applications to Field & Stream as a kid because they offered free lures and patches. The contest application was a honor system you filled out and sent in used for the magazines advertisements.

The reason I don't believe California will top the Kurita bass is our pure Florida strain LMB were introduced in 1959 and no other pure Florida bass have been transplanted since. The initial stock was used in several San Deigo lakes, then bass were electro shocked from those lakes to be transplanted in various lakes around the state. Nearly every lake had Northern bass populations when Florida strain bass were added. 60 years later the vigor of the California FLMB has dwindled into several generations of intergrades. Northern Caiifornia has fresher strain of FLMB then SoCal today, they were introduced 20 years later.

Who knows when or where the next 20 lb+ LMB hits the scales, they are extremely rare fish.

Tom

[Captain Phil]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

The reason I don't believe California will top the Kurita bass is our pure Florida strain LMB were introduced in 1959 and no other pure Florida bass have been transplanted since.

Interesting comments.  I have always wondered what it is like to fish the San Diego lakes? I first learned about these lakes when David Zimmerlee caught his 20 pound 15 oz. bass.  It's sad to learn these fish no longer exist.  Why aren't these lakes restocked with Florida fish?  Florida has a large fish hatchery not too far from my home.  They have stocked millions of bass all over the world.

 

https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/stocking/

 

 

 

 

[frogflogger]

There are a lot of big bass caught in Florida that never get reported. They weighed a 13+ from Okeechobee at Slims Fish camp several years ago. When Rojas? weighed in that record 5 bass limit at toho the pro said there was a bass he thought must weigh 25lbs. in the area.

I lived on a small ten acre lake for a few years and a neighbor had an honest 16lber on his wall. Any piece of water in Florida can hold a 10 so I like to think somewhere in that crazy polluted state there swims a monster.

[Captain Phil]

32 minutes ago, frogflogger said:

There are a lot of big bass caught in Florida that never get reported. They weighed a 13+ from Okeechobee at Slims Fish camp several years ago. When Rojas? weighed in that record 5 bass limit at toho the pro said there was a bass he thought must weigh 25lbs. in the area.

I lived on a small ten acre lake for a few years and a neighbor had an honest 16lber on his wall. Any piece of water in Florida can hold a 10 so I like to think somewhere in that crazy polluted state there swims a monster.

It's a mistake to believe small lakes and ponds don't hold big fish.  All you need to grow a large fish is genes, food and longevity.  Here in Central Florida, it's not uncommon to catch a nine pound plus bass from a golf course pond.  In my own neighborhood, East Lake is a small residential lake.   It's crystal clear.  No one fishes it.  My friend John, who lives on this lake feeds fish off his dock every morning.  The blue gills under his dock average more than a pound each and there are swarms of them.   When he feeds the fish, the bass under the school look like logs.  Every so often, a giant bass will eat one of those blue gills and splash water all over the dock. No one will ever catch those bass.  

[WRB]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

Interesting comments.  I have always wondered what it is like to fish the San Diego lakes? I first learned about these lakes when David Zimmerlee caught his 20 pound 15 oz. bass.  It's sad to learn these fish no longer exist.  Why aren't these lakes restocked with Florida fish?  Florida has a large fish hatchery not too far from my home.  They have stocked millions of bass all over the world.

 

https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/stocking/

 

 

 

 

California considers any fresh water fish not native to the state as potential invasive species. Black bass, all species were transplanted from east of the Missippippi River therefor none are native to California. The fresh water game fish native to California are trout and salmon species, so they get the states money to raise,  manage and protect.

Bass are transplanted into any new lake from existing stock. DVL, Daimond Valley, was the last lake biult in California over 20 years ago, gets trout plants regularly and has't produced a FLMB over 17 lbs to date.

Tom

[roadwarrior]

Tennessee has stocked Chick and produced a new State Record.