World Record Largemouth caught?

[Strangletooth]

Or tied? Anyone got anything on this?

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_BigBass_record_Japan_20090702

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXOyXArL9rw

[Dred]

That fish reminds me of those giant rabbits you see. You know, those that make you for "WTF", and then feel sorry for the thing. Those.

[leftybob]

What did you expect they fire nuclear weapons tests into the water ... fools~!

[SEEGERMANY]

Mr. Tooth, this doesn't surprise me at all. Several years ago, the Japanese went completely bonkers over bass fishing. A handful of extremely wealthy fisherman stocked several lakes in Japan with Florida strain largemouth with the sole intention of breaking the world record.

However, eventually, I think the world record will be shattered from a lake in Mexico.

[SEEGERMANY]

One other thing, it's amazing how ugly the largemouth gets as it grows in size. They remind me of the Nile Perch.

[Evol]

She's a beautiful sowbelly for sure, however, I don't know how this will go over here in the states. While catching a beauty like this is so extremely rare, think about it, there is only 1 known bigger (Dottie), the fact that he caught it on live bait will seem like a much less sporting catch.

Also, the fish is dead, big big letdown for the folks that have the catch and release mentality (overwhelming majority) in Bass fishing nowadays.

Seeing that it's in Japan, it's going to be hard for people here to not question the legitimacy of the claim as well. Part of that will be jealousy, as anyone can see she is HUGE, whether she's one ounce over or under the record. Remember, we've had people pull some really dirty shit over the years trying to get the record, diving weights shoved down the fishes throat, etc. Don't know how that can be verified to satisfy the people in the States though.

Then there is still the old excuse of "aquarium bass" which people (especially in the south) love to taunt the California fisherman with, a bass would not grow that size in it's natural habitat with it's natural forage. Which is most likely true of course, considering the protein buffet they get from trout in the West. So should it count? Or should there be 2 records? Maybe one regional or native, and one worldwide?

[Shawn Lutz]

However, eventually, I think the world record will be shattered from a lake in Mexico.

or Brazil, my uncle goes there a couple time a year..HUGE bass down there..

[Tekky]

She's a beautiful sowbelly for sure, however, I don't know how this will go over here in the states. While catching a beauty like this is so extremely rare, think about it, there is only 1 known bigger (Dottie), the fact that he caught it on live bait will seem like a much less sporting catch.

Also, the fish is dead, big big letdown for the folks that have the catch and release mentality (overwhelming majority) in Bass fishing nowadays.

Seeing that it's in Japan, it's going to be hard for people here to not question the legitimacy of the claim as well. Part of that will be jealousy, as anyone can see she is HUGE, whether she's one ounce over or under the record. Remember, we've had people pull some really dirty shit over the years trying to get the record, diving weights shoved down the fishes throat, etc. Don't know how that can be verified to satisfy the people in the States though.

Then there is still the old excuse of "aquarium bass" which people (especially in the south) love to taunt the California fisherman with, a bass would not grow that size in it's natural habitat with it's natural forage. Which is most likely true of course, considering the protein buffet they get from trout in the West. So should it count? Or should there be 2 records? Maybe one regional or native, and one worldwide?

Use an asterisk, it's all the rage in baseball.

[missionguitars1]

While catching a beauty like this is so extremely rare, think about it, there is only 1 known bigger (Dottie), the fact that he caught it on live bait will seem like a much less sporting catch.

Also, the fish is dead, big big letdown for the folks that have the catch and release mentality (overwhelming majority) in Bass fishing nowadays.

I've tried my hand at Dottie a couple of times, and trust me, I'd have NO problem grillin' up a delicious bass dinner!

Hilarious thing is, Lake Dixon is like 10 feet wide by 20 feet long...

[Evol]

I've tried my hand at Dottie a couple of times, and trust me, I'd have NO problem grillin' up a delicious bass dinner!

Hilarious thing is, Lake Dixon is like 10 feet wide by 20 feet long...

Oh yeah, I grew up eating them for sure, it's funny how people use the excuse that they don't taste good as a reason you should let them go. They taste damn good to me! But of course with that aside, estimates of up to 90% of bass fisherman practice catch and release, at least at the club level and above, and a dead world record will most likely be frowned upon at best and looked at as suspect at worst.

Yah, you could pretty much pee across Dixon I used to live in L.A. and would go down there from time to time, but it was always too damn limiting, so it's back to Texas for me.

Either way, she's a beauty, it is a bit of a shame her genes have been taken out of the pool so to speak, not to take anything away from it. Lord knows that had to have been one hell of a fight! I do hope he gets in the record books, I just don't look forward to the years of club banter and bitching and moaning about it. Unless someone catches one in it's natural territory on artificials I don't think the record will truly seem broken to a lot of people.

[SEEGERMANY]

Largemouth bass is a wonderful tasting freshwater fish as long as they are not too big. Once you get over about 3.5 lbs, the meat becomes grainy and fatty. It also depends on the type water they are caught in, whether it's flowing or still. Summertime bass in Louisiana usually taste like cacadoodie!

[horns666]

To hell that fish, but I did catch a Large Mouth Bitch. So we got married and lived happily ever after.

[Evol]

Largemouth bass is a wonderful tasting freshwater fish as long as they are not too big. Once you get over about 3.5 lbs, the meat becomes grainy and fatty. It also depends on the type water they are caught in, whether it's flowing or still. Summertime bass in Louisiana usually taste like cacadoodie!

Absolutely, another thing I look for is their color, too dark green and they most likely spend alot of time in the moss and taste like it, BLEH! The best ones imo are resovoir fish caught in cleaner deeper water, yum!

I've eaten them up to about 5 pounds, and they seemed ok to me, now though any female that large I just let go, it's funny 2 livewells in the boat and they never get used anymore,

[Evol]

To hell that fish, but I did catch a Large Mouth Bitch. So we got married and lived happily ever after.

Bwahahaha, but does she taste fishy? Like the old saying; If it smells like cologne, leave it alone, if it smells like fish eat all you wish!

[Flametop]

Bass as food? Bleh... For fresh water food ,give me crappie or other pan fish, medium catfish in good water or trout. Bass are fun to catch and release IMO.