You know if I caught a new state record bass here in Arkansas I would go to the trouble to make it official but (I am sure I am safe from this ever actually happening) if I ever did catch a new worlds record; I would let it go and never say a word to anyone about its' actual size. It would not be worth the hassle, character assignation, and hell; the press and fishing industry would put you through as far as I am concerned.

You know this just goes to show how big of a deal this record really is and its no wonder ESPN just recently named the #1 saught after game fish the Largemouth Bass.. suprisingly in this list the Smallmouth came in 3rd while the RedFish stole 2nd. Lb for lb Smallmouth is for the fighters but if you want some big big bass go look for some Largemouth. I love both equally to be honest.

If I caught that fish and weighed it on a properly tuned scale I would not care if it went in the book or not because I would know inside I am the title holder.

knowing your the record holder would be a great feeling but for many of us the financial perks would be so important that you would have to care.

on another note does anyone know where the articles by mac that were mentioned are?  he is an interesting guy, and a poker playe, which i also do for a living so i am interested in what he has to say.

The bass from Miramar that the lady caught was killed that had 2.5 lbs of diving weights in the stomach which was concluded as she couldn't have placed those weight in that bass because the weights had algae growth on them.

Matt.

And that wasn't IGFA who did that.

So what if that lady had these weights in a fish bowl outside for months to grow this algae on it then plopped them down the fish's mouth? Anything can be fishy...Pun intended.  

I am not in favor of killing the fish either but I am in favor of a legitimate record being the one that counts. A 500 foot home run doesn't count if it sailed 1 inch to far over to the foul pole. A snagged fish shouldn't count either.

knowing your the record holder would be a great feeling but for many of us the financial perks would be so important that you would have to care.

on another note does anyone know where the articles by mac that were mentioned are? he is an interesting guy, and a poker playe, which i also do for a living so i am interested in what he has to say.

Yeah I agree I would fight for the financial stuff to. BUT instead of getting all sad and whiney like a little girl one should be greatful god provided them that expierence. Money is nothing but substance.. (even though im materialistic)..

I hate to say this and I'm going to ruffle a few feathers but this issue is getting old a fish needs to be within the laws of the State or Country in which was caught to be a record and so Perry's record still stands until a legally caught fish is brought forward.

I hope when the next one is caught that whoever catches it covers all the bases and gives us a fish that it undoubtfuly the world record fish, without any controversy  

In Ray Scott's interview, he also said that if it were caught out of bass season that he would keep the fish, pay the fine and reap the rewards. I am not saying that I might not do the same thing, but this is a VERY public figure making these claims. He is considered a conservationist to the very core, and he is saying he would not only kill the fish, but possibly even take it out of season.

That should indicate just how big a deal this fish will eventually be...

A fish caught out of season may not count as well. In PA no record can be had for a fish caught out of season it's catch and release only you can't even put it in your livewell. I don't know what CA laws are but it may be the same there that's were the record will come from though.

I didn't know that, thanks PA Angler. I know many of my biggest fish have come around the beginning of May and with that law in mind, not that I have a fighting chance at the record now, I really have no chance of catching "the big one" in PA.

There is no season for largemouth bass in California. Some lakes are C&R only but there is no season.