World Record Bass Ruling Announced, it's a....

[fourbizz]

true that

[simplejoe]

I say congrats to him and his defeat.

But My thought is how does he know he's going to break the record soon?

What is there another 23 lb. bass in the lake that he knows of?

I feel a little BS coming from Japan in my opinion.

[SirSnookalot]

According to an article in this mornings Sun Sentinal he cast a live bluegill and he said that the smallest of the feeding bass hit the bait.  He also said that he had fought the fish for 3 minutes, they must not fight to hard in Japan.

[ww2farmer]

The  fact that it's a "TIE" bugs me................actually it's a pretty gutless decision by the IGFA, trying to appease both sides. In my view the Japan bass is THE bass to beat now, and is much more legitimate than a mythical record form the 30's.

[Grey Wolf]

Finally a record with validity.

X2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bilgerat]

According to an article in this mornings Sun Sentinal he cast a live bluegill and he said that the smallest of the feeding bass hit the bait. He also said that he had fought the fish for 3 minutes, they must not fight to hard in Japan.

At that size they don't fight very hard anywhere, especially if it was a lake fish that didn't have to fight current that may have 'muscled' him up. Think fat guy sitting in a recliner eating twinkies vs. lean guy with muscle. Fat guy has the weight but who's going to give you a better fight ?

[Hooked_On_Bass]

A big congrats to Manabu Kurita. That's great!

[Branuss04]

I'm really curious as to the reaction by some of the record chasers down in Southern California who have been going after this record for decades.

Mattlures - Any insight by the guys down there?  I know you talk to them! 

[32251]

So do you have to better the Perry fish by two oz. or the Japan fish by 2 oz. to get the record? Both are a tie for the record, but both weigh in at different weights????

[RoLo]

In effect, the IGFA awards two bonus ounces to the angler who gets there first,

and every angler to follow must deal with a 2-ounce handicap.

Fudging the numbers in this manner is supposed to provide leeway for possible inaccuracies.

However, this kind of illogical logic only punishes one side of the equation,

as though all incumbent records are carved in stone.

If we can get ourselves to sympathize with their two-ounce logic,

then it must be applied to BOTH parties. Accordingly, the actual weight of Perry's bass

may have been 22 lb 2 oz. By the same token, the actual weight of Kurita's bass

may have been 22 lb 7 oz, or 5 ounces heavier! This is the price we all pay

for IGFA's inability to draw a hard line and defend that line.

Ironically, Olympic events are measured in thousandths of a second,

yet the IGFA sees fit to throw away 1/8-lb (2oz). In spite of any decision reached

by any organization, I think we all realize that the current all-tackle world-record bass

was produced by Lake Biwa, Japan and is held by Manabu Kurita

Roger

[SWMIBASSER]

According to an article in this mornings Sun Sentinal he cast a live bluegill and he said that the smallest of the feeding bass hit the bait. He also said that he had fought the fish for 3 minutes, they must not fight to hard in Japan.

At that size they don't fight very hard anywhere, especially if it was a lake fish that didn't have to fight current that may have 'muscled' him up. Think fat guy sitting in a recliner eating twinkies vs. lean guy with muscle. Fat guy has the weight but who's going to give you a better fight ?

Depends on the equipment too. You can musle in a 22lb Musky with zero problems with surprisingly not that heavy of equipment.

[Hawg Thrasher]

I agree Kurita holds the record regardless of what the IFGA says. There are so many holes in the Perry record bass story and Kurita's story is solid. Plus, unless the perry bass was 22.98 or 22.99 Kurita's fish is bigger. I agree that the IFGA needs to change their rules for fish to be measured to the 100th of a pound on a certified scale. Also, instead of a 2 oz rule, wouldn't it be better for a new record to have to beat the old one by 1/10th of a pound?

[WRB]

I'm really curious as to the reaction by some of the record chasers down in Southern California who have been going after this record for decades.

Mattlures - Any insight by the guys down there? I know you talk to them!

The Kurita bass was caught using techniques illegal in CA; live bluegill* is considered an illegal baitfish, chumming with baitfish or any parts of baitfsih is also illegal for fresh water fishing. The practice of training potential bass by hand feeding live bait fish is also illegal; chumming.

Kurita's techniques are legal in Japan and in most other states like Texas and in countries like Mexico and Cuba, where using a wide variety of live baits is legal.

It looks like Japan has a few potential lakes with giant bass populations that could break this new record. California's giant bass population suffers for being over pressured and over harvested, very few potential world record bass swimming in CA's trophy bass lakes today.

The Kurita bass may ignite more legal bait fishing during the pre spawn and spawning periods, a time when these giant bass are easiest to catch. I would expect this to have a negative impact on already over stressed fisheries.

You never know when a 20+lb bass may show up. We have a few in CA, so there is a chance it could be caught any time within the next 90 days, wait and see.

WRB

* Bluegill and crappie are considered game fish in CA.

There are a few exceptions; Colorado river is one area where shared AZ laws allow live bluegill for bait.

[RoLo]

It looks like Japan has a few potentail lakes with giant bass populations that could break this new record. California's giant bass population suffers for being over pressured and over harvested, very few potential world record bass swimming in CA's trophy bass lakes today.

WRB

During the 80s and 90s when California was in its heyday, fishing pressure was heavy

and live crayfish were heavily employed. During that memorable era, Bob Crupi boated

a 21 lb & 22 lb bass using live crayfish. The point being, a burgeoning fishery is tough to kill,

and a fishery in a decline is tough to save. It's no secret that Japan's bass fishery

is currently burgeoning, while California seems to be experiencing genetic reversion.

Lake Perris is the best example that comes to mind. In years gone by,

Spotted Bass were transplanted in Lake Perris, CA. which produced a freak spotted bass

that broke the world-record set in the fish's natural range (Smith Reservoir, AL).

Today however, Spotted Bass have virtually disappeared from Lake Perris, CA.

Roger

[WRB]

It looks like Japan has a few potential lakes with giant bass populations that could break this new record. California's giant bass population suffers for being over pressured and over harvested, very few potential world record bass swimming in CA's trophy bass lakes today.

WRB

During the 80s and 90s when California was in its heyday, fishing pressure was heavy

and live crayfish were heavily employed. During that memorable era, Bob Crupi boated

a 21 lb & 22 lb bass using live crayfish. The point being, a burgeoning fishery is tough to kill,

and a fishery in a decline is tough to save. It's no secret that Japan's bass fishery

is currently burgeoning, while California seems to be experiencing genetic reversion.

Lake Perris is the best example that comes to mind. In years gone by,

Spotted Bass were transplanted in Lake Perris, CA. which produced a freak spotted bass

that broke the world-record set in the fish's natural range (Smith Reservoir, AL).

Today however, Spotted Bass have virtually disappeared from Lake Perris, CA.

Roger

The spotted bass in lake Perris were over harvested by live bait fisherman, spots are extremely susceptible to live bait. The other factors are the introduction of red ear sunfish (shell crackers) that decimated the spotted basses spawning beds and FLMB competing for the same forage base.

When a new species is introduced into a lake with excellent forage base established and allowed to get established and grow to adult size, they tend to grow to their maximum potential. This pattern is common  in CA lakes where FLMB are introduced. The initial growth boom is followed by an adjustment period as the fishery balances and settles down into a normal growth period where a few giants bass continue to be caught.

Tom

[angler1]

I am not surprised. Rules are rules, and fair is fair. Wow 77 years of sole possession of the World Record, and now a tie. I wonder how long that tie will last considering murita said he's seen 30 pounders!!

[SkilletSizeBass.]

congratulation's to  Manabu Kurita !

Its been long overdue.

weigh in video: http://www.igfa.org/Records/World-Record-Largemouth-Bass.aspx

[RoLo]

The spotted bass in lake Perris were over harvested by live bait fisherman, spots are extremely susceptible to live bait. The other factors are the introduction of red ear sunfish (shell crackers) that decimated the spotted basses spawning beds and FLMB competing for the same forage base.

True, but all these same stressors exist within the natural range of the spotted bass.

Lewis Smith Reservoir, Alabama from whence they came is chockfull of redear sunfish,

and I can't imagine that any amount of live bait fishing would cause their spotted bass fishery

to collapse. On the other hand, waning genetic vigor can and does cause a fishery to collapse.

When a new species is introduced into a lake with excellent forage base established and allowed to get established and grow to adult size, they tend to grow to their maximum potential. This pattern is common in CA lakes where FLMB are introduced. The initial growth boom is followed by an adjustment period as the fishery balances and settles down into a normal growth period where a few giants bass continue to be caught.

Tom

Exactly!

Roger

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Congrats to the angler.  Monster fish.  You can debate for hours the legitimacy of Perrys' fish, but you can't deny this one.  I'm sure that there are going to be tons of people flocking to Japan now for trophy fishing before too much longer.  Tie, record, whichever.  You can't deny the fact that the fish was a d**n pig.

[Bass_Akwards]

First off, the 2 oz rule is as stupid or more stupid than the "tuck rule" in the NFL

Secondly, there's no way Perry's bass ever existed imo.  I'm sure he caught a giant bass, but there's no way it was 22+ pounds according to everything I've read.  Unless my information is wrong Perry's bass couldn't have been 22+  If it was, can anyone PLEASE explain this discrepancy. 

Kuritas bass = 27.2 inches long and a girth of 26.7 inches. 

Perry's bass = 32 1/2 inches in length and 28 1/2 inches in girth.

Both fish supposidly weighed the same. 

Isn't that kinda, physically impossible?

[hyerollerfisherman]

Did he keep the fish and frame it and get it taxadermisted.

[5bass]

First off, the 2 oz rule is as stupid or more stupid than the "tuck rule" in the NFL

Nothing. I repeat, nothing, is as stupid as the tuck rule in football. The 2oz rule is close but the tuck rule is the king of dumb rules.

[fourbizz]

taxadermisted.

AWESOME!

[Branuss04]

taxadermisted.

AWESOME!

FAIL!  Try again

[avid]

I find myself really liking the fact that IGFA ruled it a tie.  Now there can be no more trash talk about the weight of the world record being 22/4. 

The fact that it comes from Japan and not somewhere else surprises me.  I had no idea they could grow that big over there.