By Dave Hurteau

The bass world is abuzz again with reports of a new world-record largemouth bass. But this time the news is not from southern California, where Mac Weakley famously foul-hooked the 25-pound, 1-ounce Dixon Lake behemoth in 2006 and where, it’s been widely assumed, the record was bound to come from. Instead, as we reported late Thursday afternoon, it appears that the new No. 1, a reported 22-pound, 5-ounce giant, has been caught on the other side of the planet by Depps Tackle Co. pro-staffer Manabu Kurita, form Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture of Japan.

If this fish’s reported weight holds up, Kurita’s 29.4-inch giant is 1 ounce heavier than George Perry’s 77-year-old, 22-pound, 4-ounce record. But Perry’s record will not fall; it’ll just have to make some room at No. 1—because International Game and Fish Association regulations require new world records of fish 25 pounds or less to weigh two ounces more than the previous one.

Here are latest reports, reaction, and video:

From the San Diego Union Tribune
“It looks like the real deal,” said San Diego County bass angler Mike Long, recognized as one of the top big-bass anglers in the world and who has been chasing the world record for nearly 16 years. . . .

Lake Biwa is Japan's largest lake and covers more than 259 square miles. It also is 4 million to 5 million years old, one of the 20 oldest lakes in the world. Its crystal-clear water is more than 300 feet deep and is home to Biwako giant catfish, ayu, Biwa trout (salmon) and more than 50 species unique to the fishery.

In recent years, Japanese officials have reacted to concerns by commercial fishermen there and have attempted to eliminate invasive species from Biwa. Black bass, or largemouth bass, along with bluegill, are at the top of the invasives list. The Lake Biwa Museum Restaurant features largemouth bass on its menu.

From the Jackson Clarion Ledger:
It bothers me that a catch from a country that basically shuns the largemouth as an invasive non-native species could be a world record for one of our most beloved game fish.

[B]iologists view bass on Lake Biwa [the way] our biologists . . . think of flying silver carp that is now threatening native fish - and boaters in the Mississippi River and its connected waters. . . .

Over here, the silver carp are trash fish. Over there, the largemouth bass, despite a growing legion of bass fishermen, is a trash fish. So it just ain't right.

Video: from YouTube . . .
. . . which you may especially like if you happen to speak Japanese.

Comments (14)

from MLH wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Largemouth bass an invasive species in Japan ... how ironic. So, considering Asian carp are invasive species in the US, where are the world records for those fish?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bob81 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

It seems very ironic on its face that the world record came from a place where the lg-mouth is an invasive species, but afer thinking about it makes a lot of sense. (Take my comments with a grain of salt, since I am far from a biologist.)

Invasive species often take hold due to exploiting a gap in a local eco-system (i.e. lack of predators,lack of successful competitors for resources, etc). Why wouldn't they be grow to an especially large size in an environment like this? (As opposed to one where there is more of a balance with other local species.)

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

I was always hoping it would be a 10 yr old kid with a bobber and a worm that would break this record.

+6 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Teodoro wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Invasives also might be less pressured than native fish. I mean, compare the number of bass fishermen here to the number of carp fishermen.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from alabamahunter wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

I just hate that it wasn't caught here, period.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Big O wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Still "smells" like a "Fish story" to me. Have to wait and see.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from klug3 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

ya right this thing looks like a total fake

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from klug3 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

fake!!!!!!!!!!!!

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Yeah Right Fake. Get some facts straight. If you want to see all the current photos, articles, videos and more just stop in my site. It is NOT FAKE!! Delaware Trophy Bass http://delawaretrophybass.com

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ggmack wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

sucks that the record comes from another country. But if it is the record, then it is the record and congradulations are in order.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Looks like a pig ol' hog... but I hope something is found to disprove this record. Like stated, I would hate for the record to be shared with a country that thinks bass are "invasive species".

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Elliott Balthazor wrote 2 years 30 weeks ago

big bass, but i don't think big enough

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

Congratulations to Manabu Kurita. He is a true trophy hunter dedicated to the pursuit of world record bass like no other. I am proud to say that in the past year he has become one of my closest friends, Another person who helps him a great deal but receives no real credit is Reika Ishaguro who designs his website, communicates his thoughts and wishes to me and others, and also is a great angler in her own right. Manabu and Reika are good friends and you can talk with both of them at my website at Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass. http://delawaretrophybass.com
Tight lines, and best of luck to all trophy hunters the world over on the next world record. Steve Owner

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

from Elliott Balthazor wrote 26 weeks 2 days ago

big bass, but i don't think big enough

Looks like you missed it there Pal. lol

http://delawaretrophybass.com

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

I was always hoping it would be a 10 yr old kid with a bobber and a worm that would break this record.

+6 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Yeah Right Fake. Get some facts straight. If you want to see all the current photos, articles, videos and more just stop in my site. It is NOT FAKE!! Delaware Trophy Bass http://delawaretrophybass.com

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Largemouth bass an invasive species in Japan ... how ironic. So, considering Asian carp are invasive species in the US, where are the world records for those fish?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bob81 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

It seems very ironic on its face that the world record came from a place where the lg-mouth is an invasive species, but afer thinking about it makes a lot of sense. (Take my comments with a grain of salt, since I am far from a biologist.)

Invasive species often take hold due to exploiting a gap in a local eco-system (i.e. lack of predators,lack of successful competitors for resources, etc). Why wouldn't they be grow to an especially large size in an environment like this? (As opposed to one where there is more of a balance with other local species.)

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Teodoro wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Invasives also might be less pressured than native fish. I mean, compare the number of bass fishermen here to the number of carp fishermen.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from alabamahunter wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

I just hate that it wasn't caught here, period.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Big O wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Still "smells" like a "Fish story" to me. Have to wait and see.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from klug3 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

ya right this thing looks like a total fake

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ggmack wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

sucks that the record comes from another country. But if it is the record, then it is the record and congradulations are in order.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Elliott Balthazor wrote 2 years 30 weeks ago

big bass, but i don't think big enough

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 4 weeks ago

Congratulations to Manabu Kurita. He is a true trophy hunter dedicated to the pursuit of world record bass like no other. I am proud to say that in the past year he has become one of my closest friends, Another person who helps him a great deal but receives no real credit is Reika Ishaguro who designs his website, communicates his thoughts and wishes to me and others, and also is a great angler in her own right. Manabu and Reika are good friends and you can talk with both of them at my website at Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass. http://delawaretrophybass.com
Tight lines, and best of luck to all trophy hunters the world over on the next world record. Steve Owner

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

Looks like a pig ol' hog... but I hope something is found to disprove this record. Like stated, I would hate for the record to be shared with a country that thinks bass are "invasive species".

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from delawarebass wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

from Elliott Balthazor wrote 26 weeks 2 days ago

big bass, but i don't think big enough

Looks like you missed it there Pal. lol

http://delawaretrophybass.com

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from klug3 wrote 2 years 31 weeks ago

fake!!!!!!!!!!!!

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.