It sure sounds like he tried to snag it to me the people from the pier say he missed the fish 4 time before hooking him. The whole story is a little fishy.

He might have, she was a bedding bass. That's what can happen when site fishing. IMO. That's why he admitted it was fouled hook. I would have took my chances and kept it alive in the nearest bait shop fish tank. He could have released it later after the IGFA guys checked it out.

If these guys were the avid WR chasers, as many who know them have said they are, I have a hard time believing that they would INTENTIONALLY try to foul hook the fish. If he knew when he was looking down in the water that he was looking at a potential WR fish, why put that in jeopardy by trying to snag it...especially with all of the witnesses around. It was also said that there was a much smaller male fish on the bed with her that was trying hit the jig. So he didn't miss her 4 times...he was trying to miss the male fish those times more than likely to get her to bite.

Lets assume that the quote is true, if the fish is near death, why go through the time & trouble to get it tank ready if it's about to die?

Because, even though it can't be proved that this fish is or isn't close to it's end, the fact of the matter is that this is a very very old fish. The possibility of the fish dying soon is undeniably there. Let's say that the IGFA doesn't certify this fish as the WR. Then in the next few days they find this fish belly up. There goes the WR. The one fish that has been caught in 70 YEARS that could break the dubious Perry WR is dead. If he would have kept the fish it would have made a strong case for a legitimate WR. That would have been a wonderful wonderful thing for the bass fishing sport. Like I said though, I don't fault the gentelman for letting the fish go...in his mind he was doing the right thing because he did not think the fish would have qualified for the WR due to being foul hooked.

My problem with that scenario is that it's the same argument people use for fish that are much smaller also... if people used that logic, this fish may have been on someone's wall as a 15lb caught years ago. Also, I do not think it is the biggest fish in the lake.

If nothing else, the world knows there is a record fish to be caught. Remember the WR thread from a couple weeks ago, and lots of people said that there had to be a gradual mark of weights up to the record? This proves all those people were wrong and just because we haven't caught one, there are some really big fish out there. If last week someone said there was a 25lb'er out there he would have been laughed out of the forum. There is a bigger fish out there... we may never see it but it's there and it was probably caught at a smaller size and released.

Flechero. I would have took my chances by putting it in a tank until the IGFA guys looked at it. If they had certified it as a WR or not, he could have released it later. I think the next WR fish of any kind should go on display at a BPS's tank.

There is nothing wrong with taking a record class fish that millions of bass fishermen would love to see.

How many of us complain when we go to the Bass Pro in Grapevine Tx and other BPS's around the country and marvel at 20lb bass in the tanks? How do you think they got there? Donated or leased? Does it matter? I have never went to a display and got mad because those fish aren't in the wild to give us an opportunity to catch those fish.

We talk about skin mounts, a replica does the same thing, or the guy by all rights could have eaten her. End of Story.

Don't say this is the largest bass ever caught, cause Cuba has boasted of some bigger than 25lbs also, like the current fish caught, no evidence to support the claims, Mexico had a supposedly 26 pounder found dead with a 3 lb tilapia stuck in her throat.

I know this fish is supposed to have been caught 3 times now out of Dixon, and the story has been the same each time basically on why it wasn't recognized as a lake record.

This does go against some of the evidence that has been reported on this forum as to large bass being caught and released and not surviving, this is the third time and she's still kicking. Third time I know of.

I promote catch and release, but a world or state record fish worth millions of dollars is business, good business, and I'm gonna cash in, and that doesn't mean I don't support catch and release, It means that a state record could be viewed by millions of anglers. Sure wish someone could have viewed Mr. Perrys fish, there would be less confussion on the current record and its doubters.

Mac Weakley, Jed Dickerson and Mike Winn spend a crazy amounts of time hunting for these big fish with the purpose of breaking the WWR. My question is this....if Mac was certain that this fish wouldn't qualify due to being fouled and he didn't go through the steps to correctly record its measurements, why would he break it to the public? Especially if he planned on going back and catching it the "right" way. Everyone and his cousin will now go to Dixon with remote hopes they can catch that million dollar fish......unless it is a smokescreen and wasn't really caught at Dixon which brings back the theory that this fish was actually caught over a week ago when word first was reported. Conspiracy theories reborn.

There is nothing wrong with taking a record class fish that millions of bass fishermen would love to see.

How many of us complain when we go to the Bass Pro in Grapevine Tx and other BPS's around the country and marvel at 20lb bass in the tanks? How do you think they got there? Donated or leased? Does it matter? I have never went to a display and got mad because those fish aren't in the wild to give us an opportunity to catch those fish.

We talk about skin mounts, a replica does the same thing, or the guy by all rights could have eaten her. End of Story.

Don't say this is the largest bass ever caught, cause Cuba has boasted of some bigger than 25lbs also, like the current fish caught, no evidence to support the claims, Mexico had a supposedly 26 pounder found dead with a 3 lb tilapia stuck in her throat.

I know this fish is supposed to have been caught 3 times now out of Dixon, and the story has been the same each time basically on why it wasn't recognized as a lake record.

This does go against some of the evidence that has been reported on this forum as to large bass being caught and released and not surviving, this is the third time and she's still kicking. Third time I know of.

I promote catch and release, but a world or state record fish worth millions of dollars is business, good business, and I'm gonna cash in, and that doesn't mean I don't support catch and release, It means that a state record could be viewed by millions of anglers. Sure wish someone could have viewed Mr. Perrys fish, there would be less confussion on the current record and its doubters.

Yep. If that is the same bass caught three times it proves me wrong. I thought 20lb plus bass were ready to kick the bucket.

Hey Trap, did you find Perry's photo? kidding man! lol

if Mac was certain that this fish wouldn't qualify due to being fouled and he didn't go through the steps to correctly record its measurements, why would he break it to the public? Especially if he planned on going back and catching it the "right" way

There were witnesses to the catch.  This kind of news spreads like wildfire.  

Hey Trap, did you find Perry's photo? kidding man! lol

LOL. Not too many poor old Georgia boys had camera's back then. It would not matter for me. If I hung a fish like that, as soon as I see his head come out of the water I would have a heart attack and die. That's what's called DIE and RELEASE. I don't recommend that type of conservation though.  ;D

I am a total advocate of catch and release but in this case with a once in a lifetime fish, I can't bash anyone for keeping it if they chose to.

Fletch, why not just release it on the water? And come back for it later. Doesn't matter who saw it, you could always downplay the size.

I know this fish is supposed to have been caught 3 times now out of Dixon, and the story has been the same each time basically on why it wasn't recognized as a lake record.

Anyone know what the record is at Dixon?  

Fletch, why not just release it on the water? And come back for it later. Doesn't matter who saw it, you could always downplay the size.

Maybe the video equip was in the car?  Not sure.... although I don't normally carry a camera on the boat so I'd have to go back to the ramp for pics.  The story said they video taped the weighing...  I can only guess as to the reasons.

http://www.seewald.com/california_state_record_largemouth_black_bass.htm

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1213867&type=story

http://www.californiagameandfish.com/fishing/bass-fishing/ca_aa010704a/

These articles show that the fish was caught more than once, the later article gives more info.

http://www.seewald.com/california_state_record_largemouth_black_bass.htm

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1213867&type=story

http://www.californiagameandfish.com/fishing/bass-fishing/ca_aa010704a/

These articles show that the fish was caught more than once, the later article gives more info.

I would like to see the video of Long's big bass swimming away. It must have been an awesome sight!!!

Matt,

Thanks for the links, good articles!

-keith

The first place I went after hearing the rumor was to the forum westernbassdotcom, southwest page.   Quotes from another sight in Cali.

its 100 percent true, my source was steve and dan barnett, who WERE THERE WHEN THE FISH WAS CAUGHT. they even got to touch the fish. the weighing of the fish flashed between 24 pounds and something ounces and 25 pounds. this is a 100% true story EXCEPT, this fish was NOT caught on a swimbait. still waiting on the news report when it comes.

its defently a world record fish but i dont think it will stand. story says it was caught on a white jig and foul hooked outside the mouth so i dont think it will fly. just my opinion if i spotted that fish on a bed i would defentily call someone and have them video tape me catching it so their would be no doubts we are talking about a million dollar fish here and i defentily would of found someway to keep that fish alive till dfg could arrive just my thoughts.....

Reportedly caught on a swim bait while sight fishing...........Why use a treble hook while sight fishing or a swim bait.

Next is the white jig, who uses, or puts stinger hooks on a jig, IE.....a treble hook while sight fishing knowingly that foul hooking or snagging the fish would eliminate a possible record fish????????  Would well known WR chaser that knowingly know the rules to have a fish certified go against the theory.

Sounds fishy on the story, not that a large bass wasn't caught just how or what it was caught on.

Cart7,

I'm not picking on you specifically but I was too lazy to go find other quotes and I have seen lots of posts here and on other threads that are nearly identical.

That fish was near the end of it's lifespan, it was worth far more in a tank at BPS than it was back in the lake.

I call B. S. on this kind of blanket statement.  First of all, that is the same argument people have been making for fish in the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and up lb. range for a long time.  So if it's true, how long does it take for a 12 or 13 to grow to 25lbs?  I say YEARS...  several years.  That means X number of spawns and more fish with great genetics and the fact that the original fish is still swimming around... how can you not like that?  What happened to all the catch and release people... seems they all disappeared yesterday.  This is the very essence of catch and release.

Lets assume that the quote is true, if the fish is near death, why go through the time & trouble to get it tank ready if it's about to die?

The difference between right and wrong is NOT measured in dollars and cents.

This SHOULD have been the coolest thread ever but after reading all the posts again this morning, I feel like I got sucker punched at a family gathering.  I'm actually shocked at the response to this catch.

You're getting yourself worked up over nothing.  

1. I'm not going to even get into the legitimacy of this catch, the fact that these guys did hook, even fowl hook a bass of this size and not keep it alive for verification and possible public display is ridiculous.  I'm as much a C & R person as anyone but geebus, you guys are acting like the removal of this one fish is akin to sacraledge.  

2. The fact they released it gives me more reason to doubt the weight.  I have no doubt the next world record resides in one of the San Diego/Southern CA type reservoirs, heck they've already pulled floaters out of some of those lakes larger than the WR.  These guys weren't some noobs out fishing minnow for crappie, they specifically target giant, possible world record bass.  To think they'd release a bass of this size, 3lbs over the current WR according to them is ridiculous.

3. Considering the current WR is being called into doubt due to the lack of some evidence, why these guys didn't keep the fish is beyond me. Even if the managed to fowl hook the thing unintentionally the fish is still worthy of public display it's last few years.  

You guys squalling about the non-release mentality need to lighten up.  It's actually OK to remove bass, even big bass from a Lake.

You're getting yourself worked up over nothing.

1. I'm not going to even get into the legitimacy of this catch, the fact that these guys did hook, even fowl hook a bass of this size and not keep it alive for verification and possible public display is ridiculous. I'm as much a C & R person as anyone but geebus, you guys are acting like the removal of this one fish is akin to sacraledge.

2. The fact they released it gives me more reason to doubt the weight. I have no doubt the next world record resides in one of the San Diego/Southern CA type reservoirs, heck they've already pulled floaters out of some of those lakes larger than the WR. These guys weren't some noobs out fishing minnow for crappie, they specifically target giant, possible world record bass. To think they'd release a bass of this size, 3lbs over the current WR according to them is ridiculous.

3. Considering the current WR is being called into doubt due to the lack of some evidence, why these guys didn't keep the fish is beyond me. Even if the managed to fowl hook the thing unintentionally the fish is still worthy of public display it's last few years.

You guys squalling about the non-release mentality need to lighten up. It's actually OK to remove bass, even big bass from a Lake.

What's ridiculous about it?  they did keep it alive to have it weighed, and viedeo'd, and had 6 witnesses.  They didn't take the extra time to look for a certified scale, because they were under the impression that it probably wouldn't qualify.  They wanted to get the fish back into the water quickly, so that hopefully they or someone else may legally catch it in the future.  I think they did OK.  Now, fault them for not knowing the rules to a T, but not for doing the right thing.

As for your release statement, I agree totally.  Bass in this country are as thick as fleas.  Taking some out of the food chain does NOTHING to the species.  If they start becomming overfished and the numbers decline, then by all means, pople can advocate catch and release.  I don't see too many Whitetail deer being caught and released, but there numbers still go up and up every year and are at near record numbers.....  

Hey guys!

Everyone's excited about this story, no matter how it works out. The details will be throughly reviewed over the next few days.

There is nothing wrong with a spirited debate, but...

Let's KEEP THE TONE FRIENDLY, please.

You're getting yourself worked up over nothing.  

1. I'm not going to even get into the legitimacy of this catch, the fact that these guys did hook, even fowl hook a bass of this size and not keep it alive for verification and possible public display is ridiculous.  I'm as much a C & R person as anyone but geebus, you guys are acting like the removal of this one fish is akin to sacraledge.  

2. The fact they released it gives me more reason to doubt the weight.  I have no doubt the next world record resides in one of the San Diego/Southern CA type reservoirs, heck they've already pulled floaters out of some of those lakes larger than the WR.  These guys weren't some noobs out fishing minnow for crappie, they specifically target giant, possible world record bass.  To think they'd release a bass of this size, 3lbs over the current WR according to them is ridiculous.

3. Considering the current WR is being called into doubt due to the lack of some evidence, why these guys didn't keep the fish is beyond me. Even if the managed to fowl hook the thing unintentionally the fish is still worthy of public display it's last few years.  

You guys squalling about the non-release mentality need to lighten up.  It's actually OK to remove bass, even big bass from a Lake.

What's ridiculous about it?  they did keep it alive to have it weighed, and viedeo'd, and had 6 witnesses.  They didn't take the extra time to look for a certified scale, because they were under the impression that it probably wouldn't qualify.  They wanted to get the fish back into the water quickly, so that hopefully they or someone else may legally catch it in the future.  I think they did OK.  Now, fault them for not knowing the rules to a T, but not for doing the right thing.

As for your release statement, I agree totally.  Bass in this country are as thick as fleas.  Taking some out of the food chain does NOTHING to the species.  If they start becomming overfished and the numbers decline, then by all means, pople can advocate catch and release.  I don't see too many Whitetail deer being caught and released, but there numbers still go up and up every year and are at near record numbers.....  

Maybe you should read the latest reports from the other thread.

Yep, they released it AFTER witnesses on a nearby dock saw the fish was caught foul hooked.  After the trio left the dock, went back out in their boat to confer, they came back, photographed the fish and then released it.  

No wonder, they don't sound completely on the up and up on this deal.  

BTW, we don't know if this fish had finished spawning or not.  The act of Spawning stresses fish out, it especially stresses old bass.  The act of the spawn, being caught and handled may have been enough to do this old fish in.  Too bad.

Dixon has certified scales at the lake, the consession stand, no excuses.

I did get worked up, you are right on. I can't stand a dog pile for no reason. I don't care if someone is into C & R or not, what kills me is the hypocrites. The ones who scream C&R always are the same ons saying he shouldn't have let it go. And yes, fish need to be kept sometimes, but why not keep smaller ones... you know the giants have good genes.

I feel like a broken record but here goes one more time, in bold print...

If he thought it wouldn't be qualified since it was hooked outside the mouth, letting it go is the right thing to do... because it will either get caught "properly" and be the next record or it will not get caught and likely spawn, adding more great genetics to that lake. It's a win-win scenario.

It would be like me asking if you released that 1 pounder in your avatar? He had plenty of witnesses to the weighing, do you think they are all full of it?

He may not agree it's for public display, (and since he caught it, it's his choice to keep, release, etc.)... especially if he didn't get credit for a record. Maybe he thinks he can catch it again, for the record. And if he does, I hope it gets released again, just to tick everyone off. ;D ;D

I'm not trying to single any one person out here, so if I offend any one person, I'm sorry. I just hate it that so many peole jump to a conclusion based on heresay and speculation.

I did read the other thread, and as I responded there, if it's the case, it's bogus.  that being said, I'd like to know who the "anonymous" source is.  Why do we believe him and not the angler?  In today's internet world, we can see anything made up with a few strokes on the keyboard.  But my point is, everybody jumps on this guys back BEFORE any of this comes out.  We all doubt people now before we believe them.  Guilt before innocence.... Maybe it's how society has gone, but it's sad.......

I think that it's been theorized to have been the same fish that was already caught twice previously (the "black dot on the cheek" thing) lends even more credence to the idea that releasing that bass was the "right" thing to do - given that there was such high doubt of it being certified as the record.

What if it's not caught again soon (e.g., this year), and survives another couple of years and is caught again, even heavier?  Assuming it's the same fish (just for fun), and it grew almost 5 lbs. in 5 years (from 20.75 in 4/2001 to 25lbs. in 4/2006), imagine it 3 years from now...potentially a whopping 28lbs.  Wow!