Pro staff,
recently another huge bass weighing 21# 7 ounces was caught in California. Do you think the world record will be broken? If so where will it come from, Florida? California, Texas? Mexico? Anywhere else? I'll give my opinion later. Johnnie Crain, Iowa

Johnnie,

Although Mexico has been giving up some monster numbers of giant bass, I still think it is going to happen in Central/Southern California. The consistent year-round mild weather and quality of the ecosystem the Cali lakes have are perfect for creating giant bass... If that bass you mentioned had eaten a 1 pound trout that day, the record was history...

Perry's record of 22 lbs, 4 oz is going to fall at some point in the future, it's just a matter of time.

I totally agree with Brendan about Californias ability to produce the next All Tackle world record largemouth. It will happen in the future. There are too many fish that are just ounces shy being caught. I think that Forida, Texas, Mexico and Cuba are all too hot to produce the record. California bass don't bake all year round like the southern fish. Add to that the trout factor.

Thanks guys, I too think California and I feel it will happen within the next two years. I hope it is a dedicated bass angler who catches it not someone fishing for whatever. A trout pattern swim bait would be my pick. Bob Crupi has a good shot at it, he has come sooooo close several times and released the second largest bass ever. I'll be rooting for him I guess. Johnnie

Interesting note about Bob Crupi. He was raised on LI in NY and happens to be my godmothers Nephew... also a CHP in Ca. possibly retired nowsmall world

I think the Official State Record here in Florida for largemouth bass is 17lbs 4oz. I heard a story of a man on the east coast of Florida, near Bradenton i believe, caught 2 Largemouth Bass over 20lbs there, one of them barely over the 20lb mark, but the other one weighed in at 21lb 12oz, but since it is unofficial, no state record for him! that would be terrible if it is true he caught those bass. 21lb 12oz isnt to far off the record i think it's 22lb 4oz right????? What was Perry's record??? a 24lb Largemouth Bass???? Let me know on that. I just wanted to share that with you guys and see if mabye you have heard that too. There have been several different people claming to have caught 20lb+ Bass, one man even said he caught it an ate it!! WOW!!

Let me know please, Thanks

Yes Cole,

Perry' record was 22 lbs, 4 oz...

Johnnie,

I also would like to see the record go to a guy like Bob Crupi... he has certainly put in the time...

Here are a couple of Bob's monsters:





Top 25 Bass of All Time
NUMBER
WEIGHT
ANGLER
DATE
LAKE

1.
22-4
George Perry
6/2/32
Montgomery Lake, GA

2.
22-01
Bob Crupi
3/12/91
Lake Castaic, CA

3.
21-12
Mike Aurjo
3/5/91
Lake Castaic, CA

4.
21-3
Ray Easley
3/4/80
Lake Castaic, CA

5.
21-0
Bob Crupi
3/9/90
Lake Castaic, CA

6.
20-15
Dave Zimerlee
6/23/73
Lake Miramar, CA

7.
20-13.7
Leo Torres
2/4/90
Lake Castaic, CA

8.
20-4
Gene Dupras
5/26/85
Lake Hodges, CA

9.
20-2
Fritz Friebel
5/19/23
Big Fish Lake, FL

10.
20-0
Phil Jay
6/21/77
Lake Miramar, CA

11.
19-10
Bruce Newsome
1/17/93
Baccarrac, Mexico

12.
19-8
Keith Gunsauls
3/1/88
Lake Miramar, CA

13.
19-3
Arden Hanline
2/15/87
Morena Lake, CA

14.
19-3
Steve Beasly
2/3/86
Lake Wohlford, CA

15.
19-1.5
Sandy Defresco
3/14/88
Lake Miramar, CA

16.
19-0.4
Danny Kadota
1/8/89
Lake Castaic, CA

17.
18-14
Keith Harper
4/7/84
Lake Isabella, CA

18.
18-13
Joe Weaver
2/5/84
Lake Isabella, CA

19.
18-12.9
Bud Wright
4/12/87
St. Johns River, FL

20.
18-12
Bob Eberly
3/9/80
Lower Otay, CA

21.
18-12
Jim Steurgeon
2/26/81
San Vicente, CA

22.
18-12
Danny Kadota
2/12/88
Lake Castaic, CA

23.
18-12
Manny Aurjo
1/25/91
Lake Castaic, CA

24.
18-11
Bill Beckum
1/15/80
Lake Castaic, CA

25.
18-10
Doug Crandall
3/1/79
San Vicente, CA



Check out some of the Monsters on this web site: www.worldrecordbass.com

Brendan,
Thanks for the great photos and info. I can't even imagine a bass that size. If I caught one like that, my partner would automatically become a millionaire, cause I'd drop dead right then and there!!

Cole, there are some great fish and even greater fish stories that come out of Florida. In this day and age I don't think anyone would eat a 20# plus bass. George Perry did eat his bass, that was back when bass were meat for the table and that's okay. My Grandfather was a great bass angler from Missouri, but he too chose to eat his fish, said that's what they're for. I have little doubt that there could be a record bass in Florida, but it's such a vast expanse it would be difficult to find. I'm really surprised Ga. doesn't have more big fish entries. I just hope who ever catches the record will realize what they have accomplished and either release the fish or have it put in a museum tank somewhere. I'm sure bass pro shop would love to have it. Thanks everyone, Johnnie

Call me crazy, but I certainly would not be surprised to see some big fish come from the Columbia river drainage in the Pacific North West. Although I believe the next number one will come from the California Delta or one of the California lakes, they are just too dominant. I often wonder how many times that fish was caught and ate! There are an awful lot of people who would never even realize what they had.

Bryan, I always thought it was too cold in the Northwest to produce giant bass. Am I wrong? I'm really surprised more of the south and mid-south states haven't stocked the Florida strain bass, it's got to be good for the economy. Arkansa has a bass over 16#, you'd think they would get involved. Mississippi and Alabama certainly have the potential too. Have to wait and see I guess, one things for sure, it won't come from Iowa, too cold and too catfish oriented. Johnnie