Roger, Florida deserves the record, it's the home of the species. Wherever it's caught it's still a Florida largemouth bass.

Tom

Not reading the whole thread...but have we talked about Mac Weakley and the 25# foul hooked bass from lake Dixon that finally died?

Dickerson caught and released the same fish in 2003, when it officially weighed 21.7 pounds.

At the time of its demise, city rangers say the renowned fish was a mere 19 pounds, a far cry from the hefty 25.1 pounds it was said to have weighed when Weakley caught, photographed and released it two years ago.

Positively identified by the telltale black spot located above its gill-line, the fish had been dead about a day when it was found.

Rumor has it that Kurita, has seen the new record, and let's face it, you need to see those 20 pounders caught before you see the record broken. So I say Japan, maybe Cali, and Texas is the future.

I would say if it's in the U.S. it would be Cali, Texas, or Florida.

I CAN tell you that it WON'T come from any of the waters I fish....    

I CAN tell you that it WON'T come from any of the waters I fish....    

X2

In no uncertain terms, the state of Florida has done a shabby job of documenting world-class largemouth bass in the past. 

One could argue that attention to freshwater bass has been hijacked by Florida being the most popular retirement state.

In addition, Florida is littered with legendary saltwater fishing destinations such as Mosquito Lagoon, Sailfish Alley,

Islamorado, Marathon, Key West and Destin, where the big bucks are garnered. Sad but true, Florida's historic records

for freshwater bass have been more astutely maintained by out-of-state organizations like the IGFA, Field and Stream,

Int'l Spin Fishing Association and others. Below is a list of "certified" bass taken in Florida that were not recognized

by the state, in many cases simply because the fish wasn't visited and identified by a state biologist,

or because a second witness wasn't present at the weigh-in. 

 

The list below expires on year 2011 and only includes world-class bass 17.5 pounds and up. 

 

20-lb 2-oz     Big Fish Lake - May 1923 - Fritz Friebel (fully documented, but not Florida certified)

19-lb 15-oz   Keystone Lake - 1927 - R. E. Lucas 

19-lb 11-oz   (29" L x 23.25" G) - Stick Marsh - Jul 1994 - Doug Thompson

19-lb 8-oz     (29” L 23” G) – Stick Marsh – May 1994 – Ed Johnson

19-lb 4-oz     Taylor Creek Reservoir – Jun 1974 – Phil Jay

19-lb 0-oz     (31”L) – Lake Tarpon – Jun 1961 – Riley Witt (former Florida state record later rescinded)

18-lb 13-oz   (29.5”L x 26.5”G) St Johns River - Apr 1987 - Buddy Wright (fully documented & certified)

18-lb 8-oz     Orange Grove Lake – Jan 2008 – Jeffrey Smith

18-lb 4-oz     St. Johns River – Dec 1948 - J.W. Smith

18-lb 2-oz     Taylor Creek Reservoir - Jun 1974 – Phil Jay

18-lb 2-oz     Lake Brooklyn – Mar 1966 – Hugh Paul

18-lb 1-oz     Stick Marsh – Apr 1994 – Robert Bloom

18-lb 0-oz     Orange Grove Lake – Steve Smith (IGFA documented)

18-lb 0-oz     (30”L) – Tucker Lake – 1964 – L.L. Petty 

18-lb 0-oz     Lake George (St Johns River) – May 1958 – Marlin Coston

18-lb 0-oz     Ashley Lake – Mar 1951 – Carl Swisher

17-lb 15-oz   Undisclosed waters – Mar 1988 – Donald Brunson 

17-lb 12-oz   West Lake Tohopekaliga (West Toho) – Jul 1986 – John Faircloth 

17-lb 9-oz     Lake George (St. Johns River) – Babette Morgan

17-lb 8-oz     (28”Lx25”G) Lake Rose – 1985 – Mike Paule 

17-lb 8-oz     (28”Lx25”G) Hurricane Lake – Mar 1983 – Robert Earl

17-lb 8-oz     Lake George (St. Johns River) – Justin Morgan

 

On a high note, in 2012 the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) launched a new and comprehensive

'TrophyCatch' program. The program is subdivided into 3 classes: "Lunker" (8 lb threshold),

"Trophy" (10 lb threshold) and "Hall of Fame" (13 lb threshold). Each division dispenses a monetary reward,

but needless to say, refusing the reward is a donation to Florida's fish & wildlife management.

 

Roger

 

Looks like 1994 might have been the peak for Stick Marsh.

The next record bass may come from Cuba. Florida strain with much less pressure.

The next record bass may come from Cuba. Florida strain with much less pressure.

In Cuba fish are food and they don't bother with rod & reel, they use gill nets!

Tom

In Cuba fish are food and they don't bother with rod & reel, they use gill nets!

Tom

 

I agree with this. Cuba may have/or had a great LMB fishery, but those fish are not caught and released, that's for sure. 

Not reading the whole thread...but have we talked about Mac Weakley and the 25# foul hooked bass from lake Dixon that finally died?

Dickerson caught and released the same fish in 2003, when it officially weighed 21.7 pounds.

At the time of its demise, city rangers say the renowned fish was a mere 19 pounds, a far cry from the hefty 25.1 pounds it was said to have weighed when Weakley caught, photographed and released it two years ago.

Positively identified by the telltale black spot located above its gill-line, the fish had been dead about a day when it was found.

you have to remember that '' Dottie was obviously sick before she died ,and she was dead longer than a day , she turned gray , that doesn't happen in a day ... that fish did weigh 25 lbs. , that's a fact ...

Just throwing it out there, what if the world record doesn't get broke? All you guys are talking about how Florida's waters are too hot and shallow, California's waters aren't managed correctly and are heavily pressured, Mexico/Cuba eat their bass and don't manage the waters, and Japan considers bass a nuisance. Considering all those conditions, my vote would have to be on private waters, like the link someone posted earlier regarding the man in Texas. (Sorry, I forgot who posted it.)

I predict the next world record largemouth bass will weigh more that 22.3 lbs.

 

Tom

I think Tom is on to something

Looks like 1994 might have been the peak for Stick Marsh.

 

That's correct Dwight, back in the day when Hugh Crumpler ruled the roost.

In 2006, when I was a newbie on the forum, I inadvertently made that remark.

But a then-active guide in Farm-13, took exception to my comment    

 

Roger

Removing bass from the waters of Cuba probably does more good than harm (think Japan).

IMO, it's year-round hot water and fish with short lifespans that excludes Cuba from setting the next record.

 

Roger

The current record isn't Perry, the Kurita fish was heavier. 22.25 <22.311. It is already a Biwa Bass. To acknowledge the Perry bass is foolish.

That's correct Dwight, back in the day when Hugh Crumpler ruled the roost.

In 2006, when I was a newbie on the forum, I inadvertently made that remark.

But a then-active guide in Farm-13, took exception to my comment  

 

Roger

 

Roger as I remember Hugh's biggest fish from Stickmarsh was 16lbs & change.

Just throwing it out there, what if the world record doesn't get broke? All you guys are talking about how Florida's waters are too hot and shallow, California's waters aren't managed correctly and are heavily pressured, Mexico/Cuba eat their bass and don't manage the waters, and Japan considers bass a nuisance. Considering all those conditions, my vote would have to be on private waters, like the link someone posted earlier regarding the man in Texas. (Sorry, I forgot who posted it.)

There are GATORS in Florida waters.

Roger as I remember Hugh's biggest fish from Stickmarsh was 16lbs & change.

 

What I do know Dwight is that Mr. Crumpler was the first guide on the Stick Marsh/Farm-13,

who began guiding in 1991. I believe he's still active today, but going back about 5 years

Hugh's clients laid claim to "460" bass of 10 lb or more.  To the best of my knowledge,

Hugh himself boated a 32" bass on July 29, 1992 at 12:30 on a bright sunny day.

At the time it was touted as the lake record, and though I'm not certain of its weight,

it was taken on a soft jerkbait, not a fluke but a local knock-off.

 

 

There are GATORS in Florida waters.

 

Raul, that's why I never jump into a Floridian lake without a sharp knife laid across my lips 

 

Roger

I haven't the slightest idea but I hope it's someplace virtually unknown in an area that's under appreciated and caught by a nobody.

I feel like it surely helps to have a solid management program in place to grow a record if it's a pressured spot but it is certainly possible in a heavily grown remote or private lake where the conditions are right, forage is heavy and pressure is low.

It's fun to think about for sure.

you have to remember that '' Dottie was obviously sick before she died ,and she was dead longer than a day , she turned gray , that doesn't happen in a day ... that fish did weigh 25 lbs. , that's a fact ...

Dottie wasn't officially weighed at 25.1 lbs, she does hold 3 spots on the top 25 list; 21.7 lb by Dickerson, 20.8 lbs by Long and 19.4 lbs by Weakley.

Tom

Anthony Denny topped the Magnolia State recordbooks on New Year’s Eve back in 1992 with this 18.15-pound behemoth taken from Natchez State Park Lake. No doubt his catch was more than enough reason for a New Year’s celebration of epic proportions. Interestingly, according to a story in The Clarion-Ledger newspaper the following day, Denny hooked his record in just two feet of water in a shallow cove far from deeper water. It was also reported that New Year’s Eve was unseasonably warm, which may have helped lure the giant bass into skinny water. State biologists noted that the fish was not laden with eggs. Had it been caught several months later, just prior to the spawn, it might well have broken the 20-pound barrier.

Read more: http://www.in-fisherman.com/bass/largemouth-bass/united-states-record-largemouth-bass/#ixzz3huExRppg

 

Where you least expect it.

The Old School Basser....

My goal is to go bassin in Florida for a weekend or something. A 10 pounder is just pretty nice one down there. Where I fish a 10 pounder would be a d**n monster!

OK, if I had to bet my favorite rod and reel, I would bet on Biwa.   For one, I'm guessing they don't have northern largemouth genetics corrupting the size possibility.   Two, it has produced the world record.  Three, there are eyewitness accounts to 25 pounders swimming in there. 

 

That is all.