Fish-Hawk.Net

Posted: **Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:23 am**

From San Diego newspaper, March 20,2006 :

Mac Weakley of Carlsbad caught what could be the world-record largemouth bass early Monday at Dixon Lake in Escondido.
The bass weighed 25 pounds, 1 ounce on a hand-held scale, which â€“ if approved â€“ would shatter the world record, the 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught by George W. Perry at Montgomery Lake in Georgia in 1932.

The catch will have to be approved by the International Game Fish Association.

That may be a problem, however, because Weakley said he foul-hooked the fish â€“ meaning the hook lodged below the dorsal fin on the fish's side, not in the fish's mouth.

Weakley was fishing with his longtime friends Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson. Dickerson caught a 21-pound, 11-ounce bass at the same lake in 2003.
The men believe this is the same fish that Dickerson caught almost three years ago, and which was also caught by another fisherman as a 20-pounder in 2001. They said the fish has the same identifying black dot under its right gill plate.

Weakley released the fish after taking pictures and videos of the weigh-in. But he did not take measurements of the fish, which also may be a problem when it comes to the game fish association approving it as a record catch.

The men believe this is the same fish that Dickerson caught almost three years ago, and which was also caught by another fisherman as a 20-pounder in 2001. They said the fish has the same identifying black dot under its right gill plate.

Weakley released the fish after taking pictures and videos of the weigh-in. But he did not take measurements of the fish, which also may be a problem when it comes to the game fish association approving it as a record catch.

Story with picture found at www.signonsandiego.com

Posted: **Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:37 am**

Thats one fat ol' bucketmouth bass!!!!!

Posted: **Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:22 am**

Record or not that is one big butt bass!

Impressive that the fish was released as well for someone else to catch once it's over 26 lbs.

I may have to take a trip down soon

Posted: **Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:39 am**

That is huge!

Posted: **Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:58 pm**

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/ou ... 1bass.html

What a monster!

Posted: **Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:21 am**

Wow, can you say Jenny Craig! Even its eyes are fat

Posted: **Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:13 pm**

What a bass! Now we can have another record controversy to go along with the musky world record debate.

Posted: **Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:40 pm**

updated story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/ou ... bass1.html

whaa...if I went for a trip there, I wouldn't come back....sorry mom

Posted: **Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:02 pm**

Funny....I am going to post this

:):)

State fish and game regulations in California clearly say that a fish, to be legally caught, must be hooked in the mouth while it tries to take a bait, lure or fly. Weakley didn't violate the law when he accidentally foul-hooked the bass, but he and his crew did violate the law by not immediately releasing it.

â€œThe fish has to voluntarily take the bait or lure in its mouth, and if it didn't, it's not a legal fish,â€ said Erick Elliott, Julian-based game warden for the Department of Fish and Game.

â€œBy the letter of the law, it's a violation because it's been illegally taken and not supposed to be in possession. But in the spirit of the law, a fish that big, it's human nature to want to document that catch. I don't know if I would have written a ticket for that even if I was watching it.â€

Brings back the debate of taking pictures of any illegal caught fish in particular OOS fish or slot fish

Mike

Posted: **Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:56 pm**

That fish makes my 10.5 lb Cuban Large Mouth Bass look like a minnow.
I've seen 10- 15 lb bass and this fish just dwarfs them. I truly think it is time that the 22lb 4oz fish is finally put to rest and something new in the records book is in place. Surely after ALL these years no one has caught something bigger???? They're there just got to catch them.

Posted: **Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:02 pm**

...........and the best thing of all...............its still swimmin'!!! Ya gotta love that!!

Posted: **Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:51 pm**

Here is a link to a video of it ... http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/mot ... y=Outdoors

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:54 am**

Nice quick clip.

Surely after ALL these years no one has caught something bigger???? They're there just got to catch them.

Numerous fish have been caught that were bigger then the 22 lb 4 oz fish caught in 1932. However, the IGFA failed to recognize these fish for various reason.

24 lb 0 oz
22 lb 8 oz
23 lb 9 oz

:):):)

This is why it is so tough to get a new world record bass...

...largemouth bass are the most popular game fish in America, and the world record is by far the most sought-after prize in all of fishing.

Mike

Posted: **Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:55 am**

...I will be more than happy with a 7+ 22 inches Ottawa LMB this year!!!

Posted: **Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:20 pm**

bowzog wrote:...........and the best thing of all...............its still swimmin'!!! Ya gotta love that!!

Hawg for sure

Fish-Hawk.Net

25 lb 1 oz largemouth

25 lb 1 oz largemouth

here's the link

update