World-record bass – maybe – pulled from Lake Dixon (San Diego County)

Sign on San Diego ^

[Pukin Dog]

SAN DIEGO – Mac Weakley of Carlsbad caught what could be the world-record largemouth bass early today at Dixon Lake in Escondido.

The bass weighed 25 pounds, 1 ounce on a hand-held scale, which – if approved – would shatter the world record, the 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught by George W. Perry at Montgomery Lake in Georgia in 1932.

The catch will have to be approved by the International Game Fish Association.

That may be a problem, however, because Weakley said he foul-hooked the fish – meaning the hook lodged below the dorsal fin on the fish's side, not in the fish's mouth.

Weakley was fishing with his longtime friends Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson. Dickerson caught a 21-pound, 11-ounce bass at the same lake in 2003.

The men believe this is the same fish that Dickerson caught almost three years ago, and which was also caught by another fisherman as a 20-pounder in 2001. They said the fish has the same identifying black dot under its right gill plate.

Weakley released the fish after taking pictures and videos of the weigh-in. But he did not take measurements of the fish, which also may be a problem when it comes to the game fish association approving it as a record catch.

[Pukin Dog]

Female Largemouth bass dont eat when they are laying eggs on their nests. The fish was snagged, not caught. That is why they had to let it go. It will NOT be seen as a record, because the fish didnt bite, they just hooked it in the side. Now, what could have been someone's million dollar fish, will likely die before someone gets a real shot at it.

[Pukin Dog]

Of course, anyone looking for me tomorrow will find me at Lake Dixon myself, bright and early.

[Servant of the 9]

Now, what could have been someone's million dollar fish, will likely die before someone gets a real shot at it.

I doubt that. I have caught several bass that had literally been cut almost in half by outboard motors and then healed completely.

So9

[newfreep]

world-record largemouth bass

Reading this, I was expecting a hillary thread.

[SteveMcKing]

This is why normal people get so annoyed with obsessive hobbyists.

Not just with fishing, but especially cars as well. The childish posturing and artificial rules they invent... it just takes all the fun out of it.

[Pukin Dog]

I hope you are right. Still, the dude should be hung out to dry for snagging it.

[Pukin Dog]

Huh?

[SteveMcKing]

What's wrong with snagging a fish? What's the difference???

[Sometimes A River]

Any pictures?

[Deguello]

It is the law. You also cannot use explosives or electrical devices.

[Pukin Dog]

If you were talking about a FOOD fish, there is nothing wrong.

LMBs are a SPORT fish. The rules are there to insure protection of the species (especially the big ones) and also to make it fair to all anglers. Every fish where records are kept have very strict rules for the manner in which you have to catch them. Otherwise you could just go out and shock the lake and net the fish as the float to the surface. That aint sport.

Whoever catches the new World Record Bass will be an instant millionaire, so it is important that the catch be fair and within the rules. Obviously, you don't sport-fish?

[Pukin Dog]

There are pictures, but they have not been published yet.

[SteveMcKing]

"Obviously, you don't sport-fish?"

Gawd no... I'm one of THE NORMALS!

[nothingnew]

Still, the dude should be hung out to dry for snagging it.

You believe that he snagged it on purpose? Just wondering...

FMCDH(BITS)

[cardinal4]

Gawd no... I'm one of THE NORMALS!

So, Im not normal because I fish? Or because I fish for bass?

[Pukin Dog]

Sure he did. He would not have hooked it otherwise, because spawning females don't eat. The males will pick up anything that lands in the nest, but they don't get anywhere near as big as the females. This fish will lose almost 2 pounds when she lays her eggs, but she will also get hungry. That is when it is hoped that someone will catch her legally.

[Toidylop]

Lake Dixon Monster Bass

[johnny7]

I've always read that the next record will come from CA.

[Mike Darancette]

Female Largemouth bass dont eat when they are laying eggs on their nests. The fish was snagged, not caught.

I thought that they would protect their nest from a crayfish or a smaller bait fish.

[Pukin Dog]

Almost never will the female. The male is on the nest 98% of the time.