by Richard Simms
posted December 3, 2003
) Photo by IGFA Leaha Trew holds what might be the largest largemouth ever caught. |
This one is creating some buzz in bass circles.
According to the International Game Fish Association, and another record-keeping body, - the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame - Leaha Trew caught a new world record largemouth. It weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces, beating George Perry's 1932 record catch by 4 ounces.
The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame has officially recognized the fish as a 12-pound line class record, however they will NOT certify it as an all-tackle world record. The IGFA also has it listed on their web page as a certified 12-pound line class record, but has yet to decide if it will be declared THE world record.
Doug Blodgett, the record administrator for the IGFA has been quoted, “it is exciting. But because we realize what a holy grail it is, we’re asking everybody’s opinion. We’re really going to discuss this one.”
Ms. Trew caught the fish on August 24 on a 72-acre lake in Sonoma County, California. She said she was using a 7-inch jerkbait.
Her son was with her and they immediately took the fish to be weighed. The scale used was a BogaGrip scale which had been officially certified as accurate. Ms. Trew's son snapped one picture of her with the fish and then they TURNED IT LOOSE!
Therein lies the rub.
Everyone knows that a true world record bass will be worth huge sums of money to the angler in endorsements and appearances. And some news account say that Ms. Trew's son has submitted other record catches to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, therefore he should have known the importance of his mom's catch.
“The scale was sent in beforehand,” Blodgett said about the record application. “We do trust that … to be accurate.”
However with only one photo of the fish, and no certification by a biologist or game official, there will always be grave questions about the veracity of the fish that Ms. Trew said was 29-inches long and had a girth of 25-inches.
There is a panel of experts studying the information for IGFA but there is no word on when they'll reach a final decision.
Again, the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame says it will recognize the fish as a 12-pound line class record and an "unofficial" all-tackle record. However it will not replace George Perry's 1932 fish as the official world record largemouth.
A spokesperson for the Hall of Fame said, "The angling public is concerned that a record be above suspicion. It is a shame that a fish has to be killed to accomplish this, but there is no other way to do it."
Catch and release is a wonderful thing… but folks, if you catch a new world record bass worth millions of dollars, keep it!
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