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.