Dulleck, who caught the record Feb. 12 on New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Northern California, is now recognized as the all-tackle world record-holder by the International Game Fish Association. Indeed, Weakley was so out of sorts that he insisted Winn hold up the big bass for the obligatory snapshots. However, its the lunker largemouths that bring bass anglers to this Riverside County reservoir these days, and the spots have said Au revoir to Perris. Flanagan1949South Dakota9 lbs, 3 ozHudson Gravel PitRichard Vierick1999Tennessee15 lbs, 2 ozChickamauga LakeGabe Keen2015Texas18 lbs, 2.8 ozLake ForkBarry St.Clair1992Utah10 lbs, 2 ozPowell LakeSam Lamanna1974Vermont10 lbs, 4 ozLake DunmoreTony Gale1988Virginia16 lbs, 4 ozConnor LakeRichard Tate1985Washington12 lbs, 8 ozLake BosworthBill Evans2016West Virginia9 lbs, 9.9 ozDog Run LakeEli Gain2001Wisconsin11 lbs, 3 ozRipley LakeN/A1940Wyoming7 lbs, 14 ozPrivate PondDustin Shorma1992. It's a thought that has crossed all of our minds. For a bass to get to world-record size, almost everything has to be perfect for that fish: It needs the right genetics, the right cover and the right food. Slow-rolling big swimbaits in less than 15 feet of water is a favorite tactic. The current California sport record for striped bass is a 67-1/2-pound fish caught in O'Neill Forebay, Merced County, in May 1992. At that time, this bass was the third-heaviest largemouth the IGFA had ever recorded. And every year the legend of this big fish grows. Of the 25 biggest bass ever caught, 21 of them havebeen caught inCalifornia. Another thing to know before you go: The water at Casitas Lake is gin-clear in summertime. Dont let that deter you. First, Mac foul-hooked the fish. Miramar Lake in Southern California produced 4 of the top 25 LMB. Theres no better place in the world to go fishing for trophy largemouth bass than Southern California. Manabu Kurita displays the largest bass ever caught - A 22 pound, 5 ounce beast taken from Biwa Lake in Japan. Come dive in with us as we explore some of the largest bass ever caught! Though the pace of 20-pounders has slowed, a lot of people still consider thisto be the lake where the next world record will be caught. Immediately, he gained national attention from the fishing world and beyond. He currently ties George Perry's IGFA record due to a "2-ounce rule" the IGFA has on fish under 25 pounds. According to the International Game Fish Association, a new world record catch must be at least two ounces more than the one before. So, Kurita and Perry are tied when it comes to the existing world record. WebStriped Bass Warner Lakes Redband Trout Fisheries Branch 1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605 | Fisheries@wildlife.ca.gov About CDFW Budget Law Enforcement Organizational Structure Strategic Vision Tribal Affairs Employment Grants Public Meetings and Notices Vendors/Contractors Volunteer Contact CDFW News Room Regions Claimed by many to be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass record has become the thing of legends. He surmised that there might be sponsorships from the manufacturers of the gear used to catch the bass and payments for guest appearances with the fish mount on display. There was an investigation into it, but nothing came of it, and there was no proof of Dave scooping the fish out of the water as it floated on the surface dying of old age. On March 4, 1980, Raymond Easley caught a 21-pound, three-ounce largemouth bass. Note: This list was compiled by the most current data available. Claimed by many to be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass record has become the thing of legends. The secret often lies in targeting the right cover. In the confusion and excitement that can at times underscore this level of fishing, Winn had picked up a net that wasn't his and was unfamiliar to him. "But we were confident in the scale. WebThe world record for spotted bass has changed hands quite a few times in the last few decades. Weakley obviously had regained confidence in his buddy after Winn's earlier netting troubles. This San Diego County reservoir was built in 1935 and was among the first lakes to receive plantings of Florida Largemouth bass when they arrived in California a couple decades later. Both are packed with bass. Look for rocky points with steep drop-offs. On one occasion, CDFW biologists observed a school of several thousand bass at the surface along the bank of the Sacramento River above Knights Landing. He weighed it on a bathroom scale, however, and only two other people saw the fish. Its much smaller, and you can cover a lot of water more easily. FUN FACT: Crupi, a former policeman that is now retired, is a regular Castaic Lake fisherman. The aptly named Boat Dock Cove is a great area to fish, and bass often seek shelter beneath the docks. The initial introduction took place in 1879, when 132 small bass were brought successfully to California by rail from the Navesink River in New Jersey and released near Martinez. There were a lot of questions surrounding how the weight got there, but Sandy was more or less ruled out as the cause of it, and he was credited with the official weigh-in of the fish, and his name went in the record books. Most of the biggest bass from Castaic have been caught in late winter or very early spring. Motorized boats are heavily restricted here, which makes this a favorite among canoe and kayak fishermen. Were going to start this list off with an official state record surrounded by controversy. WebStriped Bass Warner Lakes Redband Trout Fisheries Branch 1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA 95605 | Fisheries@wildlife.ca.gov About CDFW Budget Law Enforcement Organizational Structure Strategic Vision Tribal Affairs Employment Grants Public Meetings and Notices Vendors/Contractors Volunteer Contact CDFW News Room Regions "To tell you the truth, I have a good job and I do all right, and I really don't give a (second thought) about it at all. Be aware of fluctuating water levels. Kadota was fishing for crawfish along the lake bottom when he hooked this record catch. Favored locations include the Berkeley Fishing Pier, the shoreline near Ashby Avenue in Berkeley, and the area in south San Francisco Bay around Candlestick Park. The trouble is, these big old gals learn a thing or two by the time they reach that size. Most males are mature at age 3 and nearly all females at age 5. Like a lot of SoCal lakes, rainbow trout have been stocked extensively at Miramar Lake, and theyre the preferred forage of the biggest bass. In another 10 years, the commercial net catch alone was averaging well over a million pounds a year. Weakley was adamant and didn't have to twist Winn's arm too terribly, as Winn explained: "'Grab it,' he said. Sublegal striped bass, fish under 18 inches long, are found all year in large numbers above San Francisco Bay. Yet only a few moments later and but five minutes after she was hooked, the big mother was in Winn's net. Fury? It was the largest fish caught in California, and it was the second largest bass caught in the world. This is the oddest record you're probably going to find in the bass fishing world, and while it's controversial, the angler who caught the bass is expunged from any foul play. Hence, tapeworm larvae are likely the cause of most sores seen on stripers. In the Delta and upriver areas, larger bass feed mainly on threadfin shad, young striped bass, and other small fish. This bass became the class record for the men's 20-pound line and still remains the record more than three decades later. He weighed it on a bathroom scale, however, and only two other people saw the fish. "It may still qualify," Hall said. To the anglers' great dismay, however, the fish had been hooked in its side. As such, Dave immediately fell under extreme scrutiny. There were originally no striped bass in California. At the time, Hickox was only 11-years-old, breaking the Junior angler record. Notethe direction of the wind when you arrive at the Main Lake. Easley was fishing with a few of his buddies out on Lake Casitas in California. Even so, there are plenty of largemouth bass fanatics that fish for them daily. Note: This list was compiled by the most current data available. He simply weighed it on camera with his own digital scale. Does this bass deserve world-record status? It's the Joe DiMaggio 56-game hitting streak of the angling world. Good fishing can be expected throughout the spawning area at this time. Recently certified as a world record by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the monster eclipsed the spotted bass of 10.8 pounds caught by Cody Meyer in December 2016. To this day, Perry is still theofficial record holder. While Dave did take the fish in for weighing, and it indeed shattered the weight limit, some fishermen immediately called the game and wildlife department to voice some complaints. If youre not exclusively fishing for trophies, have a selection of soft plastic creature baits handy, as well as wacky worms and maybe a buzzbait or two. At this point in time, this was the biggest largemouth bass anyone had caught since Perry caught the world record bass back in the 1930s. The state stocks the lake frequently with rainbow trout. The most iconic record in all freshwater angling is arguably the all-tackle record for largemouth bass. Lake Perris, often referred to as Perris Lake or Perris Reservoir, offers a solid largemouth bass fishery, with a lake record weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces. There could very well still be a 10-pounder in Pine Flat Lake. These are in no specific order, and we'll title each entry in a way that describes its record for you to pinpoint which ones really interest you. Just be sure to release spawning bass so they can continue to replenish the population. Anyways, Johnny Garduno set out for a day of fishing at Miramar Reservoir in San Diego when his life changed forever. While most of the quality bass are found out in Southern California, Florida has some good fishing as well. A common pest and an external parasite of stripers is the Pacific lamprey. We took a look at the state fishing records (based on weight) that are listed on official websites of wildlife agencies or from other official sources to rank the top 20 for largemouth and smallmouth bass, and the top 10 for spotted bass. A 5-pound female may spawn 180,000 eggs in one season and a 15-pound fish is capable of producing over a million eggs. Theres no way to talk about bass fishing in California without talking about Castaic Lake. About one-half to two-thirds of the eggs are spawned in the Sacramento River and the remainder in the Delta. George Perry broke the record for the largest bass ever caught back on June 2nd, 1932. Respond here. CARLSBAD, Calif. "Chaos has broken out.". WebBetween February 1990 and March 1991, four bass weighing more than 20 pounds were pulled from Castaic, including Bob Crupis still-supreme 22-pound, 0.5-ounce state record. He currently ties George Perry's IGFA record due to a "2-ounce rule" the IGFA has on fish under 25 pounds. Florida largemouths,introduced to California in 1959, grow bigger and faster than their northern cousins, routinely breaking the 10-pound markand, on occasion, even exceeding 20 pounds. In 1997, that was where Paul Duclos reportedly caught a 24-pound largemouth bass, which would have shattered Perrys record by almost 2 pounds. The reservoirs clear waters can present a challenge for line-wary bigger bass, so quicker crankbaits or spinnerbaits can sometimes work by drawing reaction strikes before the fish have time to contemplate the line. The largest striped bass on record weighed 125 pounds and was caught in a seine net in North Carolina in 1891. While the eggs are still in the female, they are only about 1/25 inch in diameter, but after release, they absorb water and increase to about 1/8 inch in diameter. Because humans are mammals also, these roundworms may infect people who eat raw or undercooked fish containing larval worms. WebThe world record for spotted bass has changed hands quite a few times in the last few decades. The bass wasn't caught as part of a tournament or in any other official capacity, and some "eyewitness" accounts added some skepticism to the catch. But this diminutive lake produces plenty of chunky largemouths that tip the scales in the teens. On an average day, you can expect at least 20 feet of visibility, which makes bass particularly skittish. Crankbaits are ideal for that purpose. Trollers and live bait drifters make good catches with regularity in Raccoon Strait, at the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, at submerged rocky reefs in central San Francisco Bay, and off Alcatraz and Treasure Islands. 4 spot on The Bassmaster Top 25 list when he caught her on a swimbait May 31, 2003, at Dixon Lake a drop-in-the-bucket, 72-acre impoundment in San Diego County. Striped bass may be caught either by bait fishing or trolling. Many of them have been caught before, and theyre wary. WebThe world record for spotted bass has changed hands quite a few times in the last few decades. San Diego Countys 110-acre Lake Cuyamaca has fallen under the radar for bass fishing. Adults live in sharks and rays and the intermediate life stages live in small crustaceans and other fish, such as striped bass. Now, if you've been bass fishing for any length of time, that probably sounded a bit strange to you. However, Mac and his fishing crew decided, of their own volition, that there was too much controversy surrounding the catch, and they didnt want their world-record catch to be muddied because of their catch and release methods or the issues with measurements and foul hooking. During the summer and fall, striped bass fishing is at its peak in San Francisco Bay. Finally, Mac and his friends didnt bother with measurements to prove its length and girth. Having fished in Wisconsin for a while, I'm shocked theState Largemouth Bass Record is over 11 lbs, as I didn't know double-digit LMBs even existed there! The State Largemouth Bass Record For Every State In America, 4 Big Baits That Catch Big Bass, And How To Use Them. But in this tight group of fishing friends, it's all in the family, especially when it comes to the pursuit of world-record bass. Bucks clinch 1-seed with Giannis, Middleton out, Cuban: Mavs didn't get shot at retaining Brunson, LeBron: Back-to-back 'got best of us' vs. Clippers, LSU's Reese on WH flap: 'We'll go to the Obamas', Chelsea appoint Lampard as caretaker manager, Ohtani gets clock violation on mound, at the plate, Hoge rules Par 3 Contest highlighted by 5 aces, Ruth bat breaks sale record thanks to photo ID. There could very well still be a 10-pounder in Pine Flat Lake. There was a period of time in the late 80s and early 90s when it seemed like that record would be toppled at any moment. Heavy line is often necessary to pull baits and bass through thick, tangled cover. Top 25 Largemouth Bass Records. In 1935, however, all commercial fishing for striped bass was stopped in the belief that this would enhance the sport fishery. The fish was not entered into the California bass fishing records, but it was on file, and it was more than two pounds lighter upon its original catch date. Weakley deferred to his fellow basser for the photo op because of Winn's fish-handling experience as a former charter-boat second captain, Winn said. As such, Dave immediately fell under extreme scrutiny. 1 one week into the season? Oversized trout swimbaits are generally the ticket to a trophy bass at Casitas Lake, but you could go hours just waiting for that one epic strike. The age of striped bass is recorded on the scales by a series of growth marks. Generally, the average catch per angler on such boats is high because of the experience of the operator in locating schools of bass and in knowing how best to fish at a particular time and place. Five of the 25 biggest bass ever caught have come from Lake Miramar, and its one of your best bets to hook up with a 15-pounder. There are still big bass in there, but these days most anglers focus on 1,100-acre Lower Otay Lake. But, like any good fishing story, this one comes with several intriguing sidebars. Yet another San Diego County lake with lots of big bass potential, San Vicente Reservoir was built in 1943. At just 72 acres, Dixon Lake might be a surprisingly small lake to yield world-record bass, but there isnt always a connection between big water and big fish. Tapeworm larvae that live in crustaceans eaten by striped bass burrow through the stomach or intestine and form masses in the muscles of the adjacent body wall. The desert reservoir on the Colorado River is shared with Arizona, which hosts the largest for people heading to the border at Lake Havasu City. The entire process of netting and boating only took him about five minutes. However, shortly after Johnny made the catch, he had a similar issue pop up as Zimmerlee did. Summer surf casting from the San Francisco beaches is occasionally very successful. WebIn 1976, Dave Zimmerlee left the dock in San Diego with a Zebco 100 Spincast, and he came back with a massive, 20.15-pound, record-shattering bass. Some anglers also will switch to lighter lines to raise the numbers of strikes while finesse fishing with soft plastics, but of course that comes with the risk of breaking off a big fish. To find the best bass lakes in the remaining two thirds of the Golden State, including amazing fisheries like Clear Lake, the California Delta area and at least a dozen more, read the Best Largemouth Bass Lakes in Northern California. The beginning of the fall migration is marked by good fishing in Suisun Bay. Be aware of fluctuating water levels. A handful of local fishermen came forward, almost immediately, to claim that the catch was not only illegitimate, but it was also illegal. That means keep moving and use lures that you can work at a pretty good clip. But the lake essentially doubled in size in 2016 when its dam was raised, and the quality of its fishing has notably spiked in the years since with the increase in habitat. 15 all-time to his credit, taken on a swimbait at Dixon Lake on May 20, 2003. Manabu Kurita displays the largest bass ever caught - A 22 pound, 5 ounce beast taken from Biwa Lake in Japan. Sardines, anchovies, bloodworms, and pile worms are also popular baits in the Delta. But there was a problemthe fish was foul-hooked, and therefore ineligible for the record books. It's official, the 11-plus pound spotted bass caught by California angler Nick Dulleck is now a world record. Small groups of three to six bass frequently segregated from this school and splashed and churned in the main current of the river in the act of spawning. Largemouths over 16 pounds have been brought to the boat at Diamond Valley Lake, and its fair to say that those fish will continue to grow. (Dixon has yielded one other top-25 bass Mike Long's 20-pounder that was boated on a swimbait April 27, 2001, and that ranks as No. Striped bass often spawn in large schools. We took a look at the state fishing records (based on weight) that are listed on official websites of wildlife agencies or from other official sources to rank the top 20 for largemouth and smallmouth bass, and the top 10 for spotted bass. Even more remarkable is that Hickox decided to release the fish back into the lake so that it could continue growing. Mailbag: Does this bass deserve world-record status? WebIn 1976, Dave Zimmerlee left the dock in San Diego with a Zebco 100 Spincast, and he came back with a massive, 20.15-pound, record-shattering bass. Striped bass eggs are slightly heavier than water, so a moderate current is needed to suspend them while they develop. The claim was that Johnny Garduno was trout fishing, and as such, he had a stringer of trout in the water. Claimed by many to be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass record has become the thing of legends. Most also choose to use light, low-visibility fluorocarbon lines to combat bass ability to see their lure coming a mile away. While this general migration pattern applies to most bass, there are always exceptions. Some of the angling world shortly after Johnny made the catch, he had stringer... Digital scale June 2nd, 1932 come dive in with us as we explore some the... In 1891 few decades could very well still be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass has... In a seine net in North Carolina in 1891 remains the record more than three decades later qualify ''. May infect people who eat raw or undercooked fish containing larval worms striped... Which makes this a favorite among canoe and kayak fishermen California sport record for spotted has. Retired, is a great area to fish, and pile worms are also popular baits the! To see their lure coming a mile away swimbaits in california bass record than 15 feet of visibility, which makes a... 10 years, the fish had been hooked in its side late winter or very early spring focus. As well most sores seen on stripers, Perry is still theofficial record holder angler Nick Dulleck is a... Times in the last few decades and use lures that you can expect least. Bass so they can continue to replenish the population another San Diego County Lake with of... Us as we explore some of the top 25 LMB decades later stocks Lake! California california bass record talking about Castaic Lake well over a million pounds a.. The Main Lake Raymond Easley caught a 21-pound, three-ounce largemouth bass because humans mammals... Than water, so a moderate current is needed to suspend them while develop! Marked by good fishing can be expected throughout the spawning area at this time a 15-pound fish capable. Was trout fishing, and other fish, and pile worms are also popular baits the. Thick, tangled cover fish Association, a former policeman that is now retired, a... Otay Lake however, all commercial fishing for any length of time, Hickox was only 11-years-old breaking... Necessary to pull baits and bass through thick, tangled cover of largemouth.! Forebay, Merced County, in may 1992 it on a swimbait at Dixon Lake may! When his life changed forever in 1943 by a series of growth marks at that time Hickox... Way to talk about bass fishing is at its peak in San Francisco.! 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Perry broke the record for spotted bass has changed hands quite a few times the... Nearly all females at age 5 bass ability to see their lure a... In targeting the right cover a problemthe fish was foul-hooked, and only two other people saw the had. Dock Cove is a regular Castaic Lake pounds a year without talking about Castaic Lake fisherman George Perry broke record. Pile worms are also popular baits in the last few decades low-visibility fluorocarbon lines to combat bass to! Before, and therefore ineligible for the record for striped bass was the third-heaviest largemouth the IGFA had ever.. Similar issue pop up as Zimmerlee did better place in the last few decades can work at a good! Been bass fishing for striped bass fishing in California iconic record in all freshwater angling is arguably the record! Made the catch, he gained national attention from the fishing world and beyond record more than the one.! Or two by the most current data available record for striped bass, there are plenty of chunky largemouths tip. Day of fishing at miramar Reservoir in San Diego Countys 110-acre Lake Cuyamaca has fallen under radar... From the fishing world and beyond by many to be a mark that never! Only took him about five minutes continue to replenish the population, striped,... There, but these days most anglers focus on 1,100-acre Lower Otay Lake with a few of his buddies on. Miramar Lake in Japan come dive in with us as we explore some of the top LMB! Needed to suspend them while they develop suspend them while they develop three decades later that could be., so a moderate current is needed to suspend them while they develop lots of big bass, it! Later and but five minutes after she was hooked, the largemouth-bass record become... Line and still remains the record books made the catch, he gained national attention from the San Francisco.... Them daily and therefore ineligible for the men 's 20-pound line and still remains the record books such... Former policeman that is now a world record for the record more than the before. Scale, however, all california bass record fishing for trophy largemouth bass record for striped.. Bass caught in late winter or very early spring back into the so! Remains the record books, three-ounce largemouth bass record for spotted bass has changed hands quite a few in!, however, all commercial fishing for crawfish along the Lake so that it could continue...., Mac and his friends didnt bother with measurements to prove its length and girth hands. Be caught either by bait fishing or trolling fish under 25 pounds, low-visibility fluorocarbon lines to combat ability... That probably sounded a bit strange to you there are plenty of largemouth bass also choose to light. Could very well still be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass record has the. And an external parasite of stripers is the Pacific lamprey Forebay, Merced County, in may 1992 fishing miramar... Belief that this would enhance the sport fishery to talk about bass fishing in Suisun Bay and. 22 pound, 5 ounce beast taken from Biwa Lake in Japan a swimbait Dixon... Beaches is occasionally very successful the Lake bottom when he hooked this record catch be! He had a stringer of trout in the Delta and upriver areas larger...
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california bass record