Ken Duke, Managing Editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer is one of the most knowledgeable persons on largemouth bass in the world. But until there is a change in the policy, the IGFA lists them as tied. ![]() Many argue that Kurita is the true record holder due to the details of the catch, the certified scales it was weighed on and the polygraph test Kurita took after the catch. Because International Game Fish Association rules require a record catch of less than 25 pounds to be surpassed by at least two ounces, Kurita’s catch is considered by the IGFA to be tied with Perry’s. Regardless, it stood alone at the top of the heap until July of 2009, when Manabu Kurita caught a 22-pound, 4.97 ounce largemouth from Japan’s Lake Biwa. There are no pictures of the fish, and no other accounts than Perry’s. The stories about Perry’s record are sketchy. This world record is arguably the most sought after record in the world. ![]() And with the pressure to catch big bass so strong, it is somewhat surprising that the world’s record for the largest largemouth of 22 pounds 4 ounces was set in 1932 at Montgomery Lake in Georgia by George Perry. Some estimates place this number in the hundreds of millions. It is hard to fathom the number of fish that are taken annually in the United States. While other species were also distributed, the largemouth was one of the few that survived and thrived in the different claimants. His brainchild of sending bass all across the country to feed the pioneers was the cause of the spread of the largemouth bass across the country. These fish were released in every creek, pond, river and lake they could find. So every train that went west carried with them fish of many different species. In the early 19th century as more and more settlers were moving west, he devised a plan to ensure their survival through fish. So how did the largemouth bass become the most widely distributed fish in the country? We can extend a hand of thanks to Spenser Fullerton Baird former curator of the Smithsonian. The largemouth is without question the number one game fish on the planet. Only the Brown Trout is a close rival when it comes to distribution globally. It is found in more states, countries and continents than any other fish. Found in every state with the exception of Alaska, this species is the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world. The largemouth is a prized trophy for many anglers. The largemouth bass is not a true bass at all. Extrapolate that out and you find that anglers are spending an average of $400 dollars annually in search of largemouth bass. Each year in the US, 47.2 million anglers are hitting the waters looking for fish, and the majority of these are looking for largemouth bass. This one species alone accounts for $115 billion annually in the United States. The Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, is the number one sought after game fish in the world.
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