Mention the name George Perry to a group of fishermen and it is guaranteed any bass angler worth his salt will know the name. George Perry has intrigued bass anglers for 77 years for the 22-pound, 4-ounce monster he pulled from the state of Georgia’s Montgom-ery Lake. For bass anglers, Perry’s world record largemouth bass is thought as the holy grail of the fishing world.
It finally happened! After agonizing months in the documentation process, Perry’s 77-year record has been tied. As prophesied by tournament anglers, the fish was genetically tested and determined to be a “Florida” strain largemouth. But, where the fish was caught and by whom is unexpected and interesting.

Perry’s record was tied by Manabu Kurita of Aichi, Japan for his largemouth bass caught from Japan’s largest lake on July 2, 2009. The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) was caught from Lake Biwa, an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto, Japan.

The 32-year old Kurita of Aichi, Japan, was fishing with a Deps Sidewinder rod and a Shimano Antares DC7LV reel loaded with 25 pound Toray line when he pitched his bait, a live bluegill, next to a bridge piling. It was Kurita’s first cast to the piling, where he had seen a big bass swimming. He only twitched the bait a couple of times before the huge bass devoured the bluegill. After a short, three minute fight, he had the fish in the boat.

Kurita was quoted as saying “I knew it was big, but I didn’t know it was that big.”

But big it was. Using certified scales, his fish weighed in at 10.12 kilograms or 22 pounds 4 ounces. When measured, the fish had a fork length of 27.2 inches and a girth of 26.7 inches.

Kurita submitted the paperwork to the International Game Fishing Assoc. (IGFA) and they received Kurita’s application and documentation on September 19, 2009. It was months following before the IGFA officially declared Kurita’s catch as tying Perry’s record, even requesting Kurita to take a polygraph test, which he passed with flying colors.

Kurita’s fish ties the current record held for over 77 years by Perry, who caught his bass on Georgia’s Montgomery Lake, June 2, 1932, near Jacksonville, Georgia. Perry’s 22 pound 4 ounce behemoth won Field and Stream magazine’s big fish contest and 46 years later, when the IGFA took over freshwater records from Field and Stream, it became the All-Tackle record, one of over 1,100 fresh and saltwater species the IGFA monitors.

In North America the largemouth bass record is considered by millions of anglers as the “holy grail” of freshwater fish because of its popularity and the longevity of Perry’s record. Perry’s catch undoubtedly helped to spawn a billion dollar industry and a significant part of recreational sport fishing.

IGFA conservation director Schratwieser said, “The moment Kurita weighed his fish, word spread like wildfire. We knew this would be significant so we immediately contacted the Japan Game Fish Assoc. for more information. Established in 1979, and the JGFA compiles and translates all record applications of fish caught in Japan before forwarding the information to the IGFA.

“However, almost right away rumors began to circulate Kurita may have caught his fish in a ‘no-fishing zone’. In response, the IGFA immediately corresponded with the JGFA to speak with the angler about this issue and to gather information regarding the legality of fishing where Kurita caught his bass. Official word came back the location of the catch was not a no-fishing zone, but was an area where anchoring or stopping was prohibited. This spurred more correspondence with the JGFA and the angler, including affidavits asking the angler if he stopped his boat at anytime. Again, the testimony and affidavits came back indicated Kurita did not violate any laws and his catch was indeed legitimate.”

It didn’t end there.

A considerable amount of time and correspondence was to continue between the IGFA, JGFA and Kurita, a primary reason it took so long to come to a decision. During the delay of confirmation, the IGFA was besieged with letters and e-mails from the bass fishing community, according to Schratwieser.

“Many were incredulous the All-Tackle record could be tied from a fish in Japan,” said Schratwieser. “Others beseeched the IGFA to approve the record and give Kurita the credit he deserves.”
George Perry’s 77-year old record was finally, and officially, tied. “Six months may seem like a lot of time to determine if a fish ties a record,” said Schratwieser. “Hopefully, people now understand the amount of due diligence the IGFA conducted on this record. Although we treat all records with equal rigor, the All-Tackle largemouth bass record is nothing less than iconic and the bass angling community deserved nothing less.”

Schratwieser added, “The IGFA wishes to applaud Kurita on his outstanding catch, and would also like to commend him on his patience and candor during the entire review process. We would also like to thank the JGFA for their diligence and tireless assistance in corresponding with Kurita and fisheries officials.”

Treasured as one of the top sport fish by American anglers and fisheries biologists, the largemouth bass is sometimes viewed a little differently elsewhere. In Japan, fisheries officials consider largemouth bass an invasive species because bass are not native to Japan. For over 77 years the record stood as bass fishing fanatics theorized when and where the record would be broken. In the past, some American anglers have come close.

The closest came in 1991, when Robert Crupi caught a 22 pound bass in Lake Dixon, Calif. Crupi’s largemouth bass still reigns as the 16 pound line class record and the third heaviest approved bass record in IGFA history.

According to Schratwieser, until Kurita’s tie, the seven heaviest documented bass behind Perry’s fish came from California lakes.
Schratwieser said, “Although not native to California, it appears transplanted bass have adapted quite well to the deep, clear lakes and reservoirs and the abundant trout forage found in some of them. Little did people know largemouth bass grew big in places besides California, and there are true monsters swimming on the other side of the world in Japan.”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.