So, you want to know about the biggest bass ever caught? Let’s get right to it, because this is the most sacred, argued-over, and flat-out legendary record in all of freshwater fishing. The official answer, the one that stood for nearly a century, is a 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass.
But that’s where the easy answer ends and the fun one begins.
Here’s the kicker: that legendary record was sensationally tied in 2009 by an angler in Japan. The fishing world lost its collective mind. And then, just recently, thanks to some fish-nerd science (we love it), the record was untied.
Forget what you think you know. You’ve come to the right place. We’re about to do a deep dive into the most famous fish story ever told. It’s a tale of a Depression-era farm boy, a Japanese angling superstar, and a DNA test that changed fishing history forever. Oh, and just for fun, we’ll also meet the other monster “bass” that would easily steal that 22-pounder’s lunch money and stuff it in a locker.
Key Takeaways
Look, I get it. You might have a hot take to fire off in a forum right now. So here’s the “Too Long; Didn’t Read” version to get you started.
- The Undisputed Largemouth King: The official International Game Fish Association (IGFA) All-Tackle world record for Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) belongs to George W. Perry. His fish, caught in 1932, weighed 22 lbs 4 oz.
- The New “Florida” King: The fish that tied Perry’s record, a 22 lb 5 oz giant caught by Manabu Kurita in 2009, is now the inaugural All-Tackle record holder for the newly recognized Florida Bass (Micropterus salmoides) species.
- The Biggest “Bass”: If you’re talking about any fish with “bass” in the name, the champion isn’t even in the same league. The All-Tackle world record for a Striped Bass is a mind-blowing 81 lbs 14 oz.
- The Smallmouth Legend: Not to be forgotten, the All-Tackle world record for Smallmouth Bass is one of fishing’s oldest and most revered records: an 11 lbs 15 oz monster caught in 1955.
The Holy Grail: The 22-Pound Largemouth Record
You have to understand, for freshwater anglers, this 22-pound, 4-ounce number is more than a record. It’s the record. It’s like Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs, a number that seemed so mythical and unbreakable it was practically gospel.
For 77 years, no one came close. Thousands of professional anglers, millions of weekend warriors, and billions of dollars in high-tech gear couldn’t touch a record set by a kid with one lure during the Great Depression.
This is the story of the two men who, for a time, shared that legendary spot. The official scorekeeper in this entire saga is the IGFA, or the International Game Fish Association. They are the white-gloved, serious-looking judges who certify all world records, from marlin to minnows.
The Legend: George W. Perry’s 1932 “Unicorn”
This story is pure, unfiltered American folklore. It’s so good it sounds made up.
The man was George W. Perry, a 20-year-old farmer from rural Georgia. The date was June 2, 1932. Perry and his friend, J.E. “Jack” Page, decided to go fishing in Montgomery Lake to, quite literally, catch dinner for their families. Remember, this was the height of the Great Depression. You didn’t fish for “fun”; you fished for food.
His gear? A simple casting rod and his only lure: a Creek Chub Fintail Shiner.
As the story goes, the fish hit the lure with a force Perry had never experienced. After a wild, chaotic fight on tackle that was not designed for a fish of this size, they somehow wrestled the monster into their small boat. They had no idea what it weighed, only that it was the biggest fish they had ever seen.
They took it to a local post office, which had a certified scale. The needle settled at 22 pounds, 4 ounces. It was a state record, but the concept of a “world record” wasn’t really a big thing. Perry won a small fishing contest, collecting about $75 in merchandise.
And then, in the most legendary and painful-to-a-modern-angler part of the story… his family ate the fish for dinner. There are no great photos. There’s no mount. There is only the sworn affidavit and the legend that grew for decades, becoming the most unbeatable record in sports.
The Tie That Shook the World: Manabu Kurita’s 2009 Giant
Fast forward 77 years. The entire fishing world is convinced Perry’s record will never be broken. Then, the news wire explodes.
On July 2, 2009, an angler named Manabu Kurita was fishing on Lake Biwa in Japan. Lake Biwa is a famous—and infamous—trophy largemouth lake, known for producing absolute giants. Kurita, an angling superstar in his own right, was fishing with a live bluegill (a common trophy-hunting technique).
He hooked a fish that felt, as he put it, “like a monster.” After a tense fight, he landed it. The fish was weighed on a certified digital scale: 10.12 kilograms.
That converts to 22 pounds, 4.97 ounces. It was heavier. The record was broken!
…But hold on. This is where the IGFA rulebook comes in. According to IGFA rules, to break a record under 25 pounds, the new fish must weigh at least 2 ounces more than the previous record. Kurita’s fish was only about an ounce heavier.
After a thorough, months-long review (including a polygraph test for Kurita!), the IGFA made its historic announcement in 2010: the record was not broken. It was officially a tie. For the first time, George W. Perry shared his throne.
The Great Record Shake-Up: Why Perry Is King Again
For over a decade, the fishing world lived with this “tie.” It was the new reality. Two names, one legendary weight.
But then, science did what science does: it made things complicated, and then… clearer.
Fisheries biologists have long debated the genetics of “largemouth bass.” They argued that the Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides), which grows famously large and is stocked in places like California and Japan, is a genetically different fish from the Northern Largemouth (Micropterus nigricans) that Perry caught in Georgia.
In 2022, the IGFA finally and officially agreed. They announced they were splitting the “largemouth bass” category into two, just as they do with different species of salmon or tuna.
This was the bombshell:
- George W. Perry’s 1932 fish was confirmed as a Northern Largemouth Bass.
- Manabu Kurita’s 2009 fish was confirmed, through saved DNA samples, as a Florida Bass.
The result? The great tie was officially over.
George W. Perry is once again the sole, undisputed, All-Tackle World Record holder for Largemouth Bass.
Manabu Kurita wasn’t demoted. Instead, he became the inaugural and sole All-Tackle World Record holder for Florida Bass.
In a weird, wonderful way, everyone won. Perry got his crown back, and Kurita is now the king of his own (and arguably, the bigger) species.
The Other Giants: When “Bass” Means BIG
Okay, so 22 pounds is the number for the “black bass” family that freshwater anglers obsess over. But if you just ask for the “biggest bass,” the conversation has to include the real heavyweight.
The Real Bruiser: The 81-Pound Striped Bass Record
If a largemouth bass is a heavyweight boxer, the striped bass is an actual grizzly bear.
The All-Tackle World Record for a striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an animal that almost seems fake. It weighed 81 pounds, 14 ounces.
This sea monster was caught by Gregory Myerson on the night of August 4, 2011, while he was drifting a live eel off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut. This fish isn’t just in a different weight class; it’s a different sport. It’s a true ocean-going predator, and it holds the title for the heaviest fish with “bass” in its name.
The Pound-for-Pound Champ: The 11-Pound Smallmouth Record
We can’t talk about monster bass without paying respect to the pound-for-pound king. For many anglers, catching a record smallmouth is an even greater feat, as they simply don’t grow as large as their big-mouthed cousins.
The All-Tackle World Record for smallmouth bass is another one of fishing’s ancient, hallowed records. It was an 11-pound, 15-ounce giant caught by David Hayes from Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee, way back on July 9, 1955.
To put this in perspective, a 5-pound smallmouth is the fish of a lifetime for most. An 8-pounder is a world-class trophy. A fish just one ounce shy of 12 pounds is a creature of legend.
How to Catch Your Own Record-Breaking Bass
Feeling inspired? Think you can be the one to finally beat Perry? Hey, someone has to. But you’ll need a lot more than luck. You’ll need a plan.
- Go Where They Live: Records aren’t broken in your average farm pond. You need to fish bodies of water known for producing giants. For Florida-strain bass, that means lakes in California, Texas, Florida, and… well, Japan.
- Big Baits, Big Fish: You’re not hunting for a meal; you’re hunting for a mutant. This means throwing huge, specialized baits like 12-inch swimbaits, giant glide baits, or using live bait like bluegill or trout (where legal).
- Timing is Everything: The biggest bass are almost always caught in late winter or early spring. This is the “pre-spawn” window when the giant females are at their absolute heaviest, loaded with eggs and feeding aggressively before they move up to bed.
And most importantly, if you do hook that unicorn, DON’T MESS IT UP! You must follow the IGFA rules, or it’s just another fishing story.
The Record-Hunter’s Checklist (IGFA Rules)
| Requirement | Why It Matters (The “Don’t Mess This Up” Part) |
|---|---|
| Weigh on a Certified Scale | Your buddy’s handheld scale won’t cut it. It must be on a scale certified for trade (like at a marina, tackle shop, or grocery store). |
| Get Witnesses | You need at least two people to witness the weighing and measuring of the fish. They can’t just be your fishing partner. |
| Measure Length & Girth | You need the total length (fork length and total length) and the fish’s girth. |
| Take Clear Photos | Don’t be like Perry! Get tons of photos: you with the fish, the fish on the scale, the fish on a measuring board. |
| Save Line/Lure | The IGFA will require a sample of your line and the lure you used for testing. |
| Submit the Application | You must follow the full, detailed IGFA application process. You can find it on their website. |
3 Quick Rules for the Fight
- You Must Hook and Land It Yourself: No one can touch your rod, reel, or line while you’re fighting the fish. A buddy can net the fish, but that’s it.
- No Handlining: You can’t just grab the line and pull the fish in.
- Follow the Law: The fish must be caught legally, respecting all local seasons, slot limits, and bait regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the undisputed world record largemouth bass?
The undisputed IGFA All-Tackle record for Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) is 22 lbs 4 oz, caught by George W. Perry in Montgomery Lake, Georgia, on June 2, 1932.
Why was Manabu Kurita’s 22 lb 5 oz bass only a tie?
At the time, the IGFA required any new record under 25 pounds to be at least 2 ounces heavier than the previous record. Kurita’s fish was only about 1 ounce heavier, so it was declared a tie. This is now a moot point, as his fish has been re-classified as the “Florida Bass” record.
What’s the biggest striped bass ever caught?
The biggest striped bass ever caught is an 81-pound, 14-ounce monster landed by Gregory Myerson in Connecticut in 2011.
Has a 25 lb largemouth bass ever been caught?
Officially, no. The IGFA records for both Largemouth and Florida Bass are under 23 pounds. While there are rumors and unofficial catches (like the 25.1 lb “Dottie” from California, who was found dead), no fish 25 lbs or over has ever been certified by the IGFA.
Conclusion
The story of the biggest bass ever caught is so much cooler than a single number. It’s an 80-year-old fishing tale that is still evolving.
George W. Perry’s 1932 monster is now, once again, alone at the top—a mythical beast from a different era that has managed to hold off all comers. And Manabu Kurita’s fish, the giant that shook the world, is now a king in his own right, the first-ever record holder for the Florida bass.
The records are out there. Myerson, Perry, and Hayes were all just regular guys who had one incredible day. So get out there, wet a line, and for goodness’ sake, make sure your scale is certified. You never know.
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