Kurita ties 1932 'miracle bass' as co-world-record on Lake Biwa
Kurita ties the 1932 'miracle bass' record on Lake Biwa
In 2009 Japanese guide Manabu Kurita landed a largemouth bass that weighed 22 pounds, 5 ounces. IGFA representatives interviewed Kurita, reviewed location and tackle details — even conducting a polygraph — and six months later certified the fish as co-holder of the all-tackle world record for largemouth bass.
Why Perry’s 1932 catch mattered
George Perry’s 22‑pound, 4‑ounce bass from rural Georgia had been the benchmark since 1932. For decades few anglers even came close. That record defined a generation of anglers and fuelled an obsessive search for another fish of the same size.
Certification and the tie
Kurita’s bass actually outweighed Perry’s by less than two ounces; IGFA rules require a two‑ounce margin to claim sole possession, so the two remain co-record holders. Kurita accepted the shared title, saying Perry’s catch inspired many to pursue the record.
Biology, management and big bass hotspots
Biologists point to genetics, prey availability and lake conditions as key factors. Florida largemouths, transplanted worldwide, reach exceptional sizes where high‑calorie prey like stocked trout or abundant carp are available. New reservoirs in mild climates likewise create favourable growth windows before ecosystems stabilise or management changes intervene.
Where the next record might come from
Scientists and anglers name several contenders: managed southern U.S. waters repopulated with Florida bass, some Cuban lakes long closed to anglers, and sites in Africa where introduced bass have grown unusually large. Meanwhile, policy shifts in places such as Lake Biwa have reduced trophy runs, keeping the search for a sole successor alive.