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World Record Bass
The world record bass weighed 22 pounds 4 ounces and was caught from an oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River called Montgomery Lake. It was caught by George Perry, a 19-year old, in a lake near Jacksonville, Georgia on June 2, 1932. After over 75 years, this is still one of the most sought-after records in the fishing world.
New Photo of World Record Largemouth Bass
In 2006, The Augusta Chronicle, published this photo of George Perry's prize bass. This photo was discovered after George Perry's death and there is considerable speculation over whether it is real. It is certain that George Perry is not in the photo, but it is likely that the man photographed is Jack Page, who George Perry was his fishing companion that day. The photo was discovered in the possessions an Aunt of Perry's and other circumstantial evidence seems to justify that this photo is the "real thing." The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin has decided to display this as a picture of Perry's prize bass.
From
the Augusta Chronical, photographer unknown
State Historic Marker
In Jacksonville, Georgia, the small town near where the world record bass was caught, there is a state historic marker on Highway 117 between Jacksonville and Lumber City. It is about two miles from where the record was caught. Here is a picture of the sign:
The sign says: "Approximately two miles from this spot, on June 2, 1932, George W. Perry, a 19-year old farm boy, caught what was to become America's most famous fish. The twenty-two pound four ounce largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exceeded the existing record by more than two pounds and has retained the world record for more than fifty years. Perry and his friend, J. E. Page, were fishing in Montgomery Lake, a slough off the Ocmulgee River, not for trophies but to bring food to the table during those days of the great depression. The fish was caught on a Creek Chub Perch Scale Wigglefish, Perry's only lure, and was 32 1/2 inches in length and 28 1/2 inches in girth. The weight and measurements were taken, recorded and notarized in Helena, Georgia and Perry's only reward as seventy-five dollars in merchandise as first prize in Field and Stream magazine's fishing contest. The longstanding record is one of the reasons that the largemouth bass was made Georgia's Official State Fish. Montgomery Lake is today part of the Department of Natural Resources' Horse Creek WIldlife Management Area.
You can also go into town, and in Jacksonville there is a sign with pictures of Perry, and the Wigglefish plug, with a replica of the fish and more information
More Details About The
World Record Largemouth Bass
Angler: George W. Perry
Caught: June 2, 1932
Weight: 22 pounds, 4 ounces
Location: Telfair County, Ga.
Lure: Creek Chub Fintail Shiner
Disposition: Cleaned and eaten
Prize: $5 of Creek Chub Lures
Located about 130 miles south of Augusta in middle Georgia, the luck lake is off the beaten path:
Here are a couple of other recent catches that could have become new world records. However, neither prize bass catch has been recognized as a new record, leaving George Perry's catch still at the top. But as these fish show, the big ones are still out there waiting for you to catch them...
August 24, 2003: California woman catches bass, releases it with only one photo. Caught by Leah Drew at Spring Lake in California. Article.
March 20, 2006: A 25 pound, 1 ounce largemouth bass, was caught on March 20, 2006 in California. Caught by Mac Weakley at Dixon Lake. The fish was released, and Weakley never applied for the world record apparently because of problems with the catch. But, as of March 2007 he was still considering applying for the world record. Article.
More: World Record Smallmouth Bass
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National
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Florida
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