They're ALL csught @ lake Menderchuck, right @A-Jay !

The Florida comments are of interest to me here in this thread.

To answer the OP, yes I would report it because for one, supposedly there are millions of dollars waiting on the next world record bass. The Japanese stated years ago they would purchase the fish and take it to Japan to promote what they do there. Not sure if this multi-million dollar offer is still open and available or not, but if I caught a world record bass and it could turn me into instant multi-millionaire, then heck yes I'd report it.

Some things to point out though... concerning Florida, if a world record bass was caught here it would be considered a legitimate world record while a bass caught elsewhere like California would not be considered a legitimate world record because their fish are genetic mixed hybrids not naturally occurring, usually in manmade reservoirs, and with no natural predators and spoon fed 8" fingerling trout trying to fatten them up unnaturally quickly. So virtually any bass caught in California are excluded from any IGFA records.

Florida biologists are taking a different approach here in Florida. First, our state government and biologists are not tampering with the genetics of our existing natural largemouth bass. Our biologists are going after the environment in which naturally occurring species exists with the goal of helping the environment to create world record fish.

A clue to the background story behind what Florida biologists are up was published in 1985 in the Chicago Tribune:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/10/a-monster-is-lurking-in-this-phosphate-pit/

When biologists arrived at a mine reclamation site they were originally confused by what they found there. Random pits side by side. Some were filled with life. Others completely dead. And it was in this environment our biologists began their research and studying into how to grow monster largemouth bass all across the state of Florida. This site is to this day a FWC wildlife management area off limits to most of the public except for a few daily visitors allowed in there at Tenoroc, or the old Coronet phosphate mines. The name Tenoroc comes from Coronet flipped around backwards.

The lessons learned there over the last 40 years have been expanded across the state. Today there are successful projects everywhere. Lake Toho is one of them. Headwaters, Farm 13, etc. are others. And the state is continuing to reclaim mines as they are abandoned, and Rodman reservoir is now also part of the program on multiple levels.

My point is, the state of Florida does have world record bass waiting to be caught. But they are not being caught more than likely because us fishermen and our current techniques are not what fish of that size want. To catch a 22.5lb bass or bigger means we would have to figure out what a fish of that size chooses to eat and then try and fit what we do into that pattern to even begin to come close to tricking one into biting. Live bait may offer the closest thing we can use which is why live bait is so successful at catching the 14 and 15lb bass while artificial lures is not. Something we may need to consider.

I bring this up because of a story to surface out of Florida from around 1988.

I read above N.Florida Mike thinks a world record is in Kingsley lake. I tend to agree on that one, but not necessarily because of its depth, but because of how clean the lake is, and how underfished the lake is because it is generally off limits to the public.

But depth is not the only factor to growing huge bass as Florida biologists have found out. Back in 1988 the FWC did a research project on largemouth bass by going around one particular lake I won't mention for the very reason the title of this thread suggests.

The biologists of the FWC chose a lake that was off limits to the public with no real fishing pressure on it. They used a small boat to move around that lake and electro shock fish to float up to the surface unharmed where the biologists scooped them up and took them to the dock where they weighed, measured, and then put transmitters on the fish so they could track their movements at different sizes and ages of fish. Computer tracking in its early stages.

At least two men according to the story used their lunch break to walk down to the dock to fish from it during their lunch and they ran into the FWC biologists also on that dock doing their research project.

Those two men walked off that dock that day with a fish story that still resonates across Florida. They said that the FWC had electro shocked up out of that lake not one, but 2 world record sized bass that were now included in their tracking research program.

Those two men were not from Florida. And they had no reason to lie or tell a lie or any other tale about what they had just seen. They were simply repeating what they saw and heard over lunch break to others they worked with. They thought nothing of their story really. But it was heard by other Florida bass fishermen and this story has been kind of quietly kept under wraps all these years later. I heard it because my own father was one of those who got to hear it from those men and he came home from to tell me about it. And to this day I still target that lake for fishing. It is still to this day semi-private and maybe 3 or 4 boats a day on it if that. Very little pressure on the lake because of the strict requirements on motors.

My point would be that many more waters here in Florida may very well contain world record bass. But to catch them it is us fishermen who must change what we do to fool the smartest biggest bass this state has.

Another strange situation that benefits us Florida fishermen is that the human condition is slow to change. What I mean is that take lake Toho for example, the state went in there and drained that lake, scraped bottom with bulldozers, removed sludge back to clean sand, and reshaped that lake increasing spawn shallows by 200% or 3 times what nature had provided. When that lake was filled back up with water bass fishing exploded. And it produced big bass consistently.

Today that lake is once again on a downhill slide needing to be cleaned up again. But its reputation now is still drawing in fishermen from all over the country and all over the world.

And this is a good thing for us Florida bass fishermen to have all those outsiders drawn to specific bodies of water because of old reputations that may not be supportable any longer. And we like it this way because it keeps all of those fishermen concentrated in known areas that now many of us Florida guys avoid.

I now follow the science. I now follow the biologists and their ongoing work. I see what they are doing now. I see waters they have just finished. I see waters they are working on now. And I can see into the future of Florida to waters of the future they are working on.

So even if one body of water produces a world record bass and it blows up from everyone wanting to fish that location, that is to my benefit actually because it would keep all those fishermen away from where I really want to go now.

Here is an example, and once again, because of the title of this thread I choose to keep the location a secret because I want to use it for my fishing advantage and not share it with the world so they can flood in there and "blow it up" for me and other Florida bass fishermen in the know.

We have here in Florida a situation of people moving in on top of the land and sticking tubes into the ground to suck out the water for drinking and other use. As this problem increases, the ground water level or aquifer levels drop and with them our lake water levels drop.

So there have been people fighting for 45 years to "fix" their lakes drying up. Heck it has gotten so bad that in certain places in central Florida there are now entire neighborhoods built on lake bottom of old lakes that have completely dried up and disappeared, but in 1925 were a bass fishing destination and today you can buy a house where fish once swam.

So the state in conjunction with numerous others came up with an ingenious idea to restore some lakes- a number of them because one flows into another. And what they came up with was a simple idea of building a water intake pumping facility along the shore of a tributary that regularly floods and yearly can sometimes go well above 11 feet of water above. All of this water flows eventually into ocean, so the state is now going to divert some of that water through a 30" water pipe some 20 to 30 miles to the top lake in the chain. And down in that area they created natural water filters so that once the water starts flowing, it will be clean, clear pure water flowing into all those lakes from now on. This project cost over $100 million dollars.

Well guess what? The water was turned on just this year. So all those lakes guess what their future will be for bass fishing for years to come? Just like Toho on steroids. All of them. And they may already hold a world record bass or two right now. But in 3 or 4 years bass fishing will be peaking there for years to come. Just one of the many water projects ongoing in this state.

In this state we already have plenty of places "blown up" by reputation without world record bass. And according to our biologists we do have plenty of other places that may very well hold world record bass, but do not have the reputations humans cling onto.

I can't tell you all how awesome it is to read on fishing forums people planning their Florida bass fishing trips just about always naming the same old places that are well known to now be LONG past their peak producing years. Lakes on decline and yet those old reputations still keep them coming in the droves and we kind of like it this way. Keeps all of them from fishing our really good places we like to keep to ourselves.

And I almost never read on fishing forums that someone planning a trip to Florida is actually finding out where in this state the largest bass are being caught by using the Florida Trophy Catch program data. Nope. Never see that. Its always I'm going Lake O, or I'm going to Toho, etc.

The main point of this comment is that today FWC biologists are hard at work cleaning up our water and in doing so are also on track with their program of turning the state of Florida into a world class fishing destination- everywhere in the state.

So the potential for a next legitimate world record bass can be found in waters the human condition may least expect it to be.

And for us Florida guys we love it this way. Lakes like Lake O, and Toho are turned into a veritable circus like dangling a carrot before the cart. Old past reputations draw them in without them doing their homework or research and a majority of them wind up on the same old places super predictably, and who knows, may be done on purpose too, while some of Florida's best locations are still virtually unknown and not targeted for "blow ups."

I can tell you that right now, based on known data, and based on what FWC biologists have been doing for decades now, the county in the state of Florida that has produced the most huge bass weighing in the teens- besides Rodman- is Polk county.

This is in part due to the shape of the Florida sandbar and how water flows in and through Polk county and what all the biologists and engineers have had to do down there to control water.

It is precisely all that water controlling down in Polk county which is among the most extensive in the state that is directly behind the growth of monster bass there. Here is an image of some of it that I use for bass fishing information. All of this water movement data is available online 24/7 year round. You can learn how much water is flowing and from where and to where and in what quantity.

And here are the results of the water quality restoration projects and flood controls presently ongoing.... this bass weighed in well above 14 pounds and is one of the naturally occurring genetic Florida species that would qualify for an IGFA record once grown large enough.

So the point of this comment is that to truly hunt the next world record in Florida may not be found in already "blown up" waters, but may be found in those that are presently enjoying the benefits of applied water science our biologists have spent the last 40 years researching, uncovering, and replicating throughout the state almost secretly.

Follow the biologists, not the old reputations left behind in their wake.

This is the heart of it all right here... the heart of the secret water science being used all across Florida. It came from the mine pits...

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/10/a-monster-is-lurking-in-this-phosphate-pit/

So heck yes I would definitely "blow up" one body of water and take the money and run especially if that fish made me a millionaire.

Then the world of fishermen for years to come would focus on that one body of water- like Toho and Lake O- for years to come and funnel them into specific areas leaving the rest of this state wide open for locals in the know who stay on the curve or ahead of the curve, while the outside world focuses behind the curve. And we like it that way as it is right now.

Right now FWC biologists are working on new places for me to enjoy all to myself, while the world stays focused on old-news places. All part of the plan.

So who's coming to Florida soon to head to Lake O and Toho? I hope each of you have great success there. Even old Roland Martin is now following the biologists and his latest fishing videos are at Headwaters on top of the curve right now. But what is ahead of the curve? That's where you will find me. Trying to stay two steps ahead of the blowups and stay in front of the curve following the water science of biologists.

When I caught my latest 7+lb bass last year, my boat was the only one on the lake. I like it that way! Blowups on a lake are to my advantage now. Let the world follow the blowups. I follow the biologists and their water science projects.

I am willing to open the door to what I found out is going on in Florida, but to avoid blowups I won't be naming current or new projects and places specifically because I want to avoid those blowups if possible so I can enjoy it for years to come. Let the world focus on Lake O and Toho. If I do name places then I do so to protect other places not named. I think this is why our biologists also don't publish such details regularly. All kept under wraps as much as possible.

We don't target the big bass per say. We target the water science. And found within the water science is where the big bass are to be found. The secrets are in the water.

Of course. I am not anal whatsoever about "mah secret spot".

Guess I'll find out.

Hoping there's at least one more.

Last year was about as close to a big fish bust

as I've had since the Pro-V bass came into my life.

You gotta know that's been gnawing at me so far all this hard water season.

If there was ever a time when I was going to Fish Hard,

this open water season will be it.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Some things to point out though... concerning Florida, if a world record bass was caught here it would be considered a legitimate world record while a bass caught elsewhere like California would not be considered a legitimate world record because their fish are genetic mixed hybrids not naturally occurring, usually in manmade reservoirs, and with no natural predators and spoon fed 8" fingerling trout trying to fatten them up unnaturally quickly. So virtually any bass caught in California are excluded from any IGFA records.

Interesting. I did a quick Google search that indicates that bass caught in California are not disregarded from IGFA consideration.

I also read this and couldn't find any language that indicated that this could be the case:

https://igfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IGFA2024_RULES-REGS_062424.pdf

There doesn't appear to be any differentiation between Northern, Florida, or other strains. Just simply "Largemouth Bass".

Am I missing something?

2 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

Interesting. I did a quick Google search that indicates that bass caught in California are not disregarded from IGFA consideration.

I also read this and couldn't find any language that indicated that this could be the case:

https://igfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IGFA2024_RULES-REGS_062424.pdf

There doesn't appear to be any differentiation between Northern, Florida, or other strains. Just simply "Largemouth Bass".

Am I missing something?

AI Overview

Genetically modified (GM) species or organisms intentionally altered by humans are not generally accepted for

IGFA world records, which focus on naturally occurring species. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) requires that fish represent a valid, recognized scientific species to be eligible, though recent changes for species like largemouth bass now require DNA verification to ensure they are not unnatural hybrids or, in this case, a different species entirely (like Florida vs. Northern bass). 

No I wouldn’t . Take a few pics then get a hold of Steve Parks because it would probably be caught on Rage Bug. Watch her swim away

Yep. Same situation as @Pat Brown , my lakes are already blown up. Plus, even more pressure there means less on another local lake, which is where I would then be headed.

On 1/24/2026 at 10:45 AM, A-Jay said:

Guess I'll find out.

Hoping there's at least one more.

Last year was about as close to a big fish bust

as I've had since the Pro-V bass came into my life.

You gotta know that's been gnawing at me so far all this hard watcher season.

If there was ever a time when I was going to Fish Hard,

this open water season will be it.

A-Jay

Go get em!!! We're looking forward to the vids and reports.

On 1/24/2026 at 7:20 AM, FloridaFishinFool said:

The Florida comments are of interest to me here in this thread.

To answer the OP, yes I would report it because for one, supposedly there are millions of dollars waiting on the next world record bass. The Japanese stated years ago they would purchase the fish and take it to Japan to promote what they do there. Not sure if this multi-million dollar offer is still open and available or not, but if I caught a world record bass and it could turn me into instant multi-millionaire, then heck yes I'd report it.

Some things to point out though... concerning Florida, if a world record bass was caught here it would be considered a legitimate world record while a bass caught elsewhere like California would not be considered a legitimate world record because their fish are genetic mixed hybrids not naturally occurring, usually in manmade reservoirs, and with no natural predators and spoon fed 8" fingerling trout trying to fatten them up unnaturally quickly. So virtually any bass caught in California are excluded from any IGFA records.

Florida biologists are taking a different approach here in Florida. First, our state government and biologists are not tampering with the genetics of our existing natural largemouth bass. Our biologists are going after the environment in which naturally occurring species exists with the goal of helping the environment to create world record fish.

A clue to the background story behind what Florida biologists are up was published in 1985 in the Chicago Tribune:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/10/a-monster-is-lurking-in-this-phosphate-pit/

When biologists arrived at a mine reclamation site they were originally confused by what they found there. Random pits side by side. Some were filled with life. Others completely dead. And it was in this environment our biologists began their research and studying into how to grow monster largemouth bass all across the state of Florida. This site is to this day a FWC wildlife management area off limits to most of the public except for a few daily visitors allowed in there at Tenoroc, or the old Coronet phosphate mines. The name Tenoroc comes from Coronet flipped around backwards.

The lessons learned there over the last 40 years have been expanded across the state. Today there are successful projects everywhere. Lake Toho is one of them. Headwaters, Farm 13, etc. are others. And the state is continuing to reclaim mines as they are abandoned, and Rodman reservoir is now also part of the program on multiple levels.

My point is, the state of Florida does have world record bass waiting to be caught. But they are not being caught more than likely because us fishermen and our current techniques are not what fish of that size want. To catch a 22.5lb bass or bigger means we would have to figure out what a fish of that size chooses to eat and then try and fit what we do into that pattern to even begin to come close to tricking one into biting. Live bait may offer the closest thing we can use which is why live bait is so successful at catching the 14 and 15lb bass while artificial lures is not. Something we may need to consider.

I bring this up because of a story to surface out of Florida from around 1988.

I read above N.Florida Mike thinks a world record is in Kingsley lake. I tend to agree on that one, but not necessarily because of its depth, but because of how clean the lake is, and how underfished the lake is because it is generally off limits to the public.

But depth is not the only factor to growing huge bass as Florida biologists have found out. Back in 1988 the FWC did a research project on largemouth bass by going around one particular lake I won't mention for the very reason the title of this thread suggests.

The biologists of the FWC chose a lake that was off limits to the public with no real fishing pressure on it. They used a small boat to move around that lake and electro shock fish to float up to the surface unharmed where the biologists scooped them up and took them to the dock where they weighed, measured, and then put transmitters on the fish so they could track their movements at different sizes and ages of fish. Computer tracking in its early stages.

At least two men according to the story used their lunch break to walk down to the dock to fish from it during their lunch and they ran into the FWC biologists also on that dock doing their research project.

Those two men walked off that dock that day with a fish story that still resonates across Florida. They said that the FWC had electro shocked up out of that lake not one, but 2 world record sized bass that were now included in their tracking research program.

Those two men were not from Florida. And they had no reason to lie or tell a lie or any other tale about what they had just seen. They were simply repeating what they saw and heard over lunch break to others they worked with. They thought nothing of their story really. But it was heard by other Florida bass fishermen and this story has been kind of quietly kept under wraps all these years later. I heard it because my own father was one of those who got to hear it from those men and he came home from to tell me about it. And to this day I still target that lake for fishing. It is still to this day semi-private and maybe 3 or 4 boats a day on it if that. Very little pressure on the lake because of the strict requirements on motors.

My point would be that many more waters here in Florida may very well contain world record bass. But to catch them it is us fishermen who must change what we do to fool the smartest biggest bass this state has.

Another strange situation that benefits us Florida fishermen is that the human condition is slow to change. What I mean is that take lake Toho for example, the state went in there and drained that lake, scraped bottom with bulldozers, removed sludge back to clean sand, and reshaped that lake increasing spawn shallows by 200% or 3 times what nature had provided. When that lake was filled back up with water bass fishing exploded. And it produced big bass consistently.

Today that lake is once again on a downhill slide needing to be cleaned up again. But its reputation now is still drawing in fishermen from all over the country and all over the world.

And this is a good thing for us Florida bass fishermen to have all those outsiders drawn to specific bodies of water because of old reputations that may not be supportable any longer. And we like it this way because it keeps all of those fishermen concentrated in known areas that now many of us Florida guys avoid.

I now follow the science. I now follow the biologists and their ongoing work. I see what they are doing now. I see waters they have just finished. I see waters they are working on now. And I can see into the future of Florida to waters of the future they are working on.

So even if one body of water produces a world record bass and it blows up from everyone wanting to fish that location, that is to my benefit actually because it would keep all those fishermen away from where I really want to go now.

Here is an example, and once again, because of the title of this thread I choose to keep the location a secret because I want to use it for my fishing advantage and not share it with the world so they can flood in there and "blow it up" for me and other Florida bass fishermen in the know.

We have here in Florida a situation of people moving in on top of the land and sticking tubes into the ground to suck out the water for drinking and other use. As this problem increases, the ground water level or aquifer levels drop and with them our lake water levels drop.

So there have been people fighting for 45 years to "fix" their lakes drying up. Heck it has gotten so bad that in certain places in central Florida there are now entire neighborhoods built on lake bottom of old lakes that have completely dried up and disappeared, but in 1925 were a bass fishing destination and today you can buy a house where fish once swam.

So the state in conjunction with numerous others came up with an ingenious idea to restore some lakes- a number of them because one flows into another. And what they came up with was a simple idea of building a water intake pumping facility along the shore of a tributary that regularly floods and yearly can sometimes go well above 11 feet of water above. All of this water flows eventually into ocean, so the state is now going to divert some of that water through a 30" water pipe some 20 to 30 miles to the top lake in the chain. And down in that area they created natural water filters so that once the water starts flowing, it will be clean, clear pure water flowing into all those lakes from now on. This project cost over $100 million dollars.

Well guess what? The water was turned on just this year. So all those lakes guess what their future will be for bass fishing for years to come? Just like Toho on steroids. All of them. And they may already hold a world record bass or two right now. But in 3 or 4 years bass fishing will be peaking there for years to come. Just one of the many water projects ongoing in this state.

In this state we already have plenty of places "blown up" by reputation without world record bass. And according to our biologists we do have plenty of other places that may very well hold world record bass, but do not have the reputations humans cling onto.

I can't tell you all how awesome it is to read on fishing forums people planning their Florida bass fishing trips just about always naming the same old places that are well known to now be LONG past their peak producing years. Lakes on decline and yet those old reputations still keep them coming in the droves and we kind of like it this way. Keeps all of them from fishing our really good places we like to keep to ourselves.

And I almost never read on fishing forums that someone planning a trip to Florida is actually finding out where in this state the largest bass are being caught by using the Florida Trophy Catch program data. Nope. Never see that. Its always I'm going Lake O, or I'm going to Toho, etc.

The main point of this comment is that today FWC biologists are hard at work cleaning up our water and in doing so are also on track with their program of turning the state of Florida into a world class fishing destination- everywhere in the state.

So the potential for a next legitimate world record bass can be found in waters the human condition may least expect it to be.

And for us Florida guys we love it this way. Lakes like Lake O, and Toho are turned into a veritable circus like dangling a carrot before the cart. Old past reputations draw them in without them doing their homework or research and a majority of them wind up on the same old places super predictably, and who knows, may be done on purpose too, while some of Florida's best locations are still virtually unknown and not targeted for "blow ups."

I can tell you that right now, based on known data, and based on what FWC biologists have been doing for decades now, the county in the state of Florida that has produced the most huge bass weighing in the teens- besides Rodman- is Polk county.

This is in part due to the shape of the Florida sandbar and how water flows in and through Polk county and what all the biologists and engineers have had to do down there to control water.

It is precisely all that water controlling down in Polk county which is among the most extensive in the state that is directly behind the growth of monster bass there. Here is an image of some of it that I use for bass fishing information. All of this water movement data is available online 24/7 year round. You can learn how much water is flowing and from where and to where and in what quantity.

And here are the results of the water quality restoration projects and flood controls presently ongoing.... this bass weighed in well above 14 pounds and is one of the naturally occurring genetic Florida species that would qualify for an IGFA record once grown large enough.

So the point of this comment is that to truly hunt the next world record in Florida may not be found in already "blown up" waters, but may be found in those that are presently enjoying the benefits of applied water science our biologists have spent the last 40 years researching, uncovering, and replicating throughout the state almost secretly.

Follow the biologists, not the old reputations left behind in their wake.

This is the heart of it all right here... the heart of the secret water science being used all across Florida. It came from the mine pits...

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/10/a-monster-is-lurking-in-this-phosphate-pit/

So heck yes I would definitely "blow up" one body of water and take the money and run especially if that fish made me a millionaire.

Then the world of fishermen for years to come would focus on that one body of water- like Toho and Lake O- for years to come and funnel them into specific areas leaving the rest of this state wide open for locals in the know who stay on the curve or ahead of the curve, while the outside world focuses behind the curve. And we like it that way as it is right now.

Right now FWC biologists are working on new places for me to enjoy all to myself, while the world stays focused on old-news places. All part of the plan.

So who's coming to Florida soon to head to Lake O and Toho? I hope each of you have great success there. Even old Roland Martin is now following the biologists and his latest fishing videos are at Headwaters on top of the curve right now. But what is ahead of the curve? That's where you will find me. Trying to stay two steps ahead of the blowups and stay in front of the curve following the water science of biologists.

When I caught my latest 7+lb bass last year, my boat was the only one on the lake. I like it that way! Blowups on a lake are to my advantage now. Let the world follow the blowups. I follow the biologists and their water science projects.

I am willing to open the door to what I found out is going on in Florida, but to avoid blowups I won't be naming current or new projects and places specifically because I want to avoid those blowups if possible so I can enjoy it for years to come. Let the world focus on Lake O and Toho. If I do name places then I do so to protect other places not named. I think this is why our biologists also don't publish such details regularly. All kept under wraps as much as possible.

We don't target the big bass per say. We target the water science. And found within the water science is where the big bass are to be found. The secrets are in the water.

Thank you for taking the time out write this. This is one of the reasons why I decided to make this topic, for information and ideas and people to share there stories and thought process. Although I haven't gotten that far down the rabbit hole yet when it comes to studying biological reports on my local bodies of water, im trying to get my foot in the door by atleast finding out the stocking schedule in the local ponds and rivers, and using the previous dates to determine a rough estimate when the next stoking will be so I can plan a trip around it.

I would love to learn from the electrofishing reports but I dont know how to gain access, and i dont know how well they target the smallmouth. From what I have found in passing, they focus more on the trout and panfish population than they do the bass. From an article last year (I dont remember specifically where) i believe they were able to electrofish 2 potential state record panfish, that were returned safely back into the water after being studied.

Im gunna try and make it a point to talk to the fish and game/department of wildlife next opertunity I get, and see if he can get me some info or atleast better leads as to where I can find it myself.

And to answer my own question, it would depend on the body of water. The pond i frequent the most holds some decent sized bass. I wouldnt mind blowing that up because its already decently popular with the localsṛ. But I if I catch it on a small stretch of river I can almost guarantee is holding 2.5+ smallmouth, (not a state record but still sizable for the size of river it is) i will release it more for the fact that I dont have alot of easily accesable water ways and lakes, unless I drive 1-5 hours l in every direction.

A state record would go back in the water after a quick picture. I don't even know what my state record is. If I catch the world record, I'm going to brag about it and beg for sponsorship dollars, more than a politician at election time

A new world record, documented properly, would put over a million dollars in your pocket, not counting any endorsement money in the future. I would be shouting out every way possible!

I think most places capable of producing a record bass aren't exactly a secret. Sure the EXACT spot might be, but the greater waterway or lake, probably not. The MA largemouth record can't be beaten because it was based on a lie, but the smallmouth record realistically can only come from two places, the Wachusett or Quabbin reservoir. Neither of which are any kind of secret. So yea I'd be fine submitting that. Same with Pike, only a handful of western MA lakes or the Connecticut river system are capable of producing pike that big, and the guys targeting them already know that.

Really depends.

Am I on a guided trip to Lake St Clair? Probably would, why not. Huge body of water that ain't no secret.

Am I on some 300 acre lake here in Iowa that throws out the state record? Much different.

The survival of the fish would be my largest concern, not my fame. I respect "my" fish too much.

Yall really think the secret to fishing is going to hit up somebody else’s spot for sloppy seconds?

If I catch a record and turn it in, that means you will not be able to catch that fish

I read somewhere, maybe from @A-Jay , just because you watched a Bruce Lee movie doesn’t mean you know kung fu

56 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yall really think the secret to fishing is going to hit up somebody else’s spot for sloppy seconds?

If I catch a record and turn it in, that means you will not be able to catch that fish

I read somewhere, maybe from @A-Jay , just because you watched a Bruce Lee movie doesn’t mean you know kung fu

True. But that won't keep people from trying. Couple years ago a local tourney guy weighed in a bass that was within 3# of state record and the word got out... fast. Pressure increased almost immediately. Though it did die down before too long.

A few years back, a tournament was going on. Somebody caught a double digit, 4-5 hundred feet north of my dock. I don’t know who it was, I don’t keep up on tournaments.

Anyway, it was the buzz around here for awhile, it lasted around a month…. Then back to normal.

First week, a ba-zillion boats and people, drones flying around. It was quite the sight, second week, about 30% of the first week.

Third week, 10% of the original crowd …. Fourth week back to normal.

I think it might get blown up for a while then, then it will be business as usual.

https://majorleaguefishing.com/archives/2003-12-09-california-woman-breaks-perry-s-71-year-old-largemouth-record-or-does-she/

Came across this a while back, never checked on its authenticity

Nope

18 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I read somewhere, maybe from @A-Jay , just because you watched a Bruce Lee movie doesn’t mean you know kung fu

I beg to differ.

I've spent countless hours studying the ways of Daniel Larusso and Mr. Miyagi.

I might not be able to fend off six or seven Cobra Kai, but I can hold my own.

No, I don't even carry a scale in the boat. I could guess its a record, but would not know or really care. If she's a big girl, a quick photo if possible and back in the water quickly, to hopefully produce some more large fish in the coming years.

I’m a pound away from the lake record and everybody seems to know it. Probably because I keep bringing it up.

38 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I’m a pound away from the lake record and everybody seems to know it. Probably because I keep bringing it up.

Well you might as well just keep reminding them.

My PB SMB is a state record in several states. Just not in mine.

😱

A-Jay

53 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Well you might as well just keep reminding them.

My PB SMB is a state record in several states. Just not in mine.

😱

A-Jay

I know what you mean. My PB Smally would only be a record in 5 states (well, 6 if you count Florida which does not have any Smallmouth Bass)

Claro que si! 11 of the 25 biggest LMB ever caught are from the county I live in. haha