There has been report of a florida strain largemouth bass with a weight of 10.12 kilograms (22lbs 5 oz) and length that measures 73.5cm (29.4 inches long). The fish is being harvested for IGFA certification which requires that the record be broken by 2 oz. This all makes for an interesting story considering the number of discrepancies that have surrounded recent catches here in California as well as the old record of 22lbs 4oz caught in 1932 by George Perry.
***update***
The unofficial WRB was caught on a live bluegill in the southern area of Lake Biwa called Nanko. The fish was caught and landed on a Deps Sidewinder The Dom Driver F/E Rod and TORAY Super Hard Strong 25lb line. After trying to keep the fish alive in a live well the fish unfortunately passed away and is now frozen awaiting certification.
here is a short video of the catch Giant Bass
Japan is no stranger to the trophy bass scene. There was a 25lb florida strain largemouth bass reportedly caught at Lake Biwa in a fisherman’s net earlier this year and in the past few years there have reports of other giant bass in the mid-high teens caught by various trophy anglers. The official record in Japan is 19.15 lbs was caught by Kazuya Shimada from Lake Ikahara on April 22,2003 on an Optimum Bait. Shimada until now had caught the 4 largest bass in Japan’s history and has well over 40 bass over 10lbs.
Lake Biwa is considered Japan’s largest and oldest lake dating back 4-5 million years and is among the oldest 20 lakes in the world. It covers more than 674.4 square kilometers and runs clear with deep water and rocky shorelines in its upper stretches(mesotrophic) and shallow and grassy in its lower reaches(eutrophic). The Biwako giant catfish and Biwa trout(salmon) are two of more than 50 species unique to the lake. Other fish that make up the food chain are Ayu,various Carp,along with goby and sculpin. Non native black bass and bluegill are considered an invasive species and are illegal to catch and release.
Tags: Deps, Lake Biwa, Manabu Kurita, world record bass
Congratulations to Manabu Kurita. He is a true trophy hunter dedicated to the pursuit of world record bass like no other. I am proud to say that in the past year he has become one of my closest friends, Another person who helps him a great deal but receives no real credit is Reika Ishaguro who designs his website, communicates his thoughts and wishes to me and others, and also is a great angler in her own right. Manabu and Reika are good friends and you can talk with both of them at my website at Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass. http://delawaretrophybass.com
Tight lines, and best of luck to all trophy hunters the world over on the next world record. Steve Owner
The IGFA is making an announcement “LIVE” right now on the stauts of this bass. It will most likely be a new world record. Details at my site.
http://delawaretrophybass.com
wrong. It is not a line class record it is an all tackle record. It does not have to be caught on 20 lb test guarantee you man. I talk to Manabu every single day of the week.
Okay folks, another reason George Perry’s record bass of 22.04 will not fall to Manabu Kurita.
From my previous email, Regarding IGFA Rules:
1. “2″ ounce rule in effect for any gamefish under 25Lbs will cancel any possibility of world record. At 22.05, it’s off .01oz. Close but no cigar.
2. Bass must be alive at weigh in. His wasn’t!
3. Line Class, most important. It seems Manabu Kurita was using Toray Super Hard 25lb test fishing line. Only problem, IGFA RULES indicate a world record Largemouth Bass must be caught on 20lb test or less. Check out page 6 of the IGFA Rules, left side of page. That alone will disqualify him for the world record bass. There’s no way IGFA would sanction his bass as a world record with he clearly was using fishing line over the weight class. Check it out for yourself, page 6, right side for largemouth bass fishing line max.
http://www.igfa.org/PDF/InternationalAnglingRules09.pdf.
Richard
George Perry’s Bass record of 77 years will not fall. His 22.04 bass will continue to elude the world until all the criteria is met . There are reasons why the IGFA has rules, and Manabu Kurita has not met them in two of the most important areas.
Regarding IGFA Rules:
1. “2″ ounce rule in effect will cancel any possibility of world record. At 22.05, it’s off .01oz. Close but no cigar.
2. Bass must be alive at weigh in. His wasn’t!
While live bait can be used, with the other criteria not met, it won’t get much new’s attention. Most anglers in America use artificial bait, includind George Perry’s Creek Chub for his record. To me, a world record bass should be caught on artifical bait to keep the integrity of the record.
Richrd
IGFA receives documentation, photos on pending world record largemouth bass caught in Japan
Weight matches current IGFA record held for 77 years by Georgia’s George Perry
fishing tips, knots, white bass, fishing wallpaper, FLW, Stren, Bassmaster, BFL, WBT
Manabu Kurita hold his (pending) World Record Largemouth Bass.
Manabu Kurita hold his (pending) World Record Largemouth Bass. DANIA BEACH, Fla. USA, (September 15, 2009) — Documentation for a much talked about 22 lb 4 oz largemouth bass, caught from Japan’s largest lake in July, has arrived into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) headquarters for world record recognition.
Late Monday, the IGFA, the 70-year old non-profit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping body, received the application for the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), caught July 2, by Manabu Kurita, 32, of Aichi, Japan. IGFA rules for fish caught outside the U.S. allows anglers 90 days to submit their applications from the date of their catch.
IGFA conservation director Jason Schratwieser said the World All-Tackle application is currently under review after it was received through the Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA).
Schratwieser said the application stated the bass weighed 10.12 kg (22 lbs 4 ozs) and was pulled from Lake Biwa an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto. Photos and video were also submitted with the written documentation.
Kurita’s fish would tie the current record held for over 77 years by George Perry caught on Georgia’s Montgomery Lake, June 2, 1932, near Jacksonville, Georgia.
In North America the largemouth bass, and especially the All-Tackle record, is considered by millions of anglers as the “holy grail” of freshwater fish because of its popularity and the longevity of Perry’s record.
Largemouth bass have also been introduced in many countries and in Japan fisheries officials consider it an invasive species. In addition, because bass are not native and are stocked in Japan, many speculated that the big bass was a sterile triploid. However when biologists in Japan examined the ova of the big female they concluded that the fish was not triploid.
IGFA World Records Coordinator Becky Wright reported Kurita’s fish measured 27.20 inches in length and an almost equal girth of 26.77 inches. She said Kurita was using a blue gill as live bait trolling through a canal.
A decision by the IGFA of whether Kurita’s fish will tie Perry’s record may take up to a month.
“We have a formal relationship with our sister organization, the Japan Game Fish Association where they first collect and review record applications for fish caught in Japan,” said Schratwieser. “It works out well because they not only translate applications but can also contact the angler if more documentation is needed.
“We still have a number of questions to ask them and Kurita regarding local laws and the area he caught it in while he was trolling through a canal on the lake,” said Schratwieser.
“We hope to make an announcement in three to four weeks.”
Annually the IGFA publishes a comprehensive list of current records on nearly 1100 species of fresh and saltwater fish across the globe in its highly acclaimed World Record Game Fishes (WRGF) book which is divided into all-tackle, line classes, fly, and junior record categories.
The IGFA has been recognized as the official keeper of world saltwater fishing records since its founding in 1939. In 1978 it added the field of freshwater record-keeping when Field & Stream magazine transferred its 68 years of records to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, the association’s world headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla.
The IGFA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its interactive Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.
oklahall says:
July 15, 2009 at 2:58 pm
well i hate to be the bearer of bad news but i an a rednek if yu ever cn one an i have cn tonz of fish that people have tangled netted i mean tonz an when yu look at this fishes fins yu will kno he has been in one the color diff is a sign of the nylon squeeezin the blood out in them its was a good try tho jus make sure next time to not let the southern world c pics like that an yu might make it budddy
What??? Can i get a SPELLING check over here?
well i hate to be the bearer of bad news but i an a rednek if yu ever cn one an i have cn tonz of fish that people have tangled netted i mean tonz an when yu look at this fishes fins yu will kno he has been in one the color diff is a sign of the nylon squeeezin the blood out in them its was a good try tho jus make sure next time to not let the southern world c pics like that an yu might make it budddy
By Vance McCullough
Well, rumor has it that the Deps rod company in Japan wants exclusive rights to Manabu Kurita’s story (apparently available only in Japanese language) on his big catch. They intend to sell the DVD’s. An item that won’t rank very high on many Christmas wish lists here in the States.
This is yet another big blow to Kurita’s ability to monetize his good fortune. Not only was the fish caught on live bait in Japan, during a global economic downturn, but now the publicity train can’t even make it out of the station. Too bad.
I say we bring that world record title right back home anyway. Where’s the next Dottie? Too bad she washed up dead this past spring.
That fish is HUGE! They have a video on youtube about it (in JP) cant understand it, but man that thing is a monster and how surprising was that to come out of JP! NOT CALI! lol..
ay Arden,
I am happy to see a possible WRB come from outside of this country. Californians have had more shots than anyone since Perry caught the record. Hopefully it will inspire trophy hunters around the world even more to get out and fish a few extra hours,days,etc…
Also it’s going to be interesting to see how this record is viewed by the Japanese government considering black bass are invasive species.
chewy
Cool, this is the best report I’ve seen of the fish so far. Didn’t know who caught the fish. The second pic is great; as is the pic of the lake. I have mixed feelings about the catch. Born in California and knowing all the GIANT bass we have; I would have loved to see the new World Record come from CA. But with that said, if all the info is correct, and the fish is 22.05; in my mind it is the World Record and I hope they “give” it to him. That “2 ounce” rule is stupid IMO. Congrats Manabu Kurita! And thanks for the info.
Arden