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It’s official! largemouth bass caught in Japan ties IGFA
All-Tackle World Record
Freshwater fishing’s “Holy Grail” now has
dual holders; 22 lb 4 oz bass caught by Japan’s Manabu Kurita matches IGFA
record held for 77 years by Georgia’s George Perry
DANIA BEACH, Fla. USA, (January 8, 2010)
--- After nearly six months of waiting, Japan’s Manabu Kurita is taking his
place along side Georgia, USA angler George Perry in the International Game Fish
Association’s (IGFA) World Record Games Fishes book as dual holders of the
All-Tackle record for largemouth bass each weighing 22 lb 4 oz and caught 77
years apart.
Today the IGFA approved Kurita’s
application for the fish caught from Japan’s largest lake on July 2, 2009. The
70-year old non-profit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping
body, received Kurita’s application and documentation on Sept. 19, 2009. The
largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), was caught from Lake Biwa which is an
ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto.
Kurita, 32, of Aichi, Japan, was fishing
Biwa that July day using a Deps Sidewinder rod and a Shimano Antares DC7LV reel
loaded with 25 lb 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 he got
bit. 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 kg or 22 lb 4 oz. When measured, the fish had a fork
length of 27.2 inches and a girth of 26.7 inches. The IGFA only has line classes
up to 20 lb for largemouth bass, so Kurita had no chance at a line class record
as well.
IGFA rules for fish caught outside the U.S.
allows anglers 90 days to submit their applications from the date of their
catch. The documentation was received through the IGFA’s sister association the
Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA). IGFA conservation director Jason
Schratwieser said Kurita’s application was meticulously documented with the
necessary photos and video.
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. That 22 lb 4 oz 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 now
one of over 1,100 fresh and saltwater species the IGFA monitors.
IGFA All-Tackle records are now free for
viewing by the public by clicking here. Kurita’s name
is now on the IGFA Web site with that of Perry’s and will appear in the 2011
edition of the World Record Games Fishes book…. unless that record is broken
this year.
The IGFA announced the decision at its
headquarters with a live video feed carried on Bassmaster.com, one of the most
popular fishing Web sites in the world and the official site of the Bass Anglers
Sportsman Society (BASS).
In North America the largemouth bass, and
especially the All-Tackle 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. That fish undoubtedly helped to spawn a billion dollar industry
that today makes up a significant part of the sport of recreational fishing.
Schratwieser said, “The moment Kurita
weighed his fish, word spread like wildfire. We knew this would be significant
so we immediately contacted the JGFA for more information. Established in 1979,
and JGFA compiles and translates all record applications of fish caught in Japan
before forwarding to the IGFA.
“It works out well because they not only
translate applications but can also contact the angler if more documentation is
needed.”
It turned into a lengthy process
“Since the IGFA requires three months from the time of capture before a record
can be approved, the official word would have to wait until October 2,” said
Schratwieser.
“However, almost right away rumors began to
circulate that 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 that 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 that came back indicated that the
Kurita did not violate any laws and that 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 this time, the IGFA was also
besieged with letters and emails from the bass fishing community, said
Schratwieser.
“Many were incredulous that the All-Tackle
record could be tied from a fish in Japan. Others beseeched the IGFA to approve
the record and give Kurita the credit he deserves. Still others wanted to know
why the entire process was taking so long. It soon became clear to the IGFA
staff that this would be a contentious issue no matter if the record were
approved or rejected.
“The IGFA was also sensitive to this
particular record because in past years there have been several attempts to sue
us over largemouth bass record claims. Although none of these claims have been
successful, they have resulted in considerable legal fees for the IGFA,” he
said.
In the end, the IGFA staff concluded it
would be both in the best interest of the IGFA and that of Kurita if he
submitted to a polygraph analysis. The IGFA reserves the right to employ
polygraph analyses to any record application, and this is explicitly stated in
the affidavit section of the world record application form.
Again, more correspondence was issued to
the JGFA to request that Kurita take a polygraph test.
He immediately agreed.
On December 15, Kurita was examined by a
professional polygraph analyst in Japan. The many questions he was given
included if he was truthful about the information reported on the application
form and if his boat ever came to a complete stop while fighting his fish.
The results from the polygraph concluded
that Manabu Kurita answered the questions honestly and that the catch was
legitimate.
George Perry’s 77 year old record was
officially tied.
Due diligence pays off
“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.”
Biology and bass across the globe; where
will the next record come from?
Largemouth bass have also been introduced in many countries but in Japan
fisheries officials consider it an invasive species. In addition, because bass
are not native and are stocked in Japan, many speculated that the big bass was a
sterile triploid. However when biologists in Japan examined the ova of the big
female, Schratwieser said they concluded that the fish was not triploid.
For over 77 years the record stood as bass
fanatics theorized when and where the record would be broken. Over the years
there have been rumors and unsubstantiated reports of bass that could have tied
or eclipsed Perry’s record, but nothing ever passed IGFA criteria. Some anglers
did come close, however.
Schratwieser said the closest came in 1991,
when Robert Crupi caught a 22 lb bass in Lake Dixon, California USA, that still
reigns as the 16 lb line class record and the third heaviest approved bass
record in IGFA history.
“Most people thought that the next
All-Tackle record would come from California. Until Kurita’s tie the seven
heaviest bass records behind Perry’s came from California lakes. 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 that introduced
bass grew big in places besides California, and that there are true monsters
swimming on the other side of the world in Japan.”
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