Kurita ties Perry’s long-standing largemouth bass record
Kurita ties a nearly 80-year-old world-record bass
In 2009 Japanese guide Manabu Kurita landed a largemouth bass that would be certified as a co-world-record by the International Game Fish Association. After on-site checks and a polygraph interview to verify location and tackle, Kurita’s catch was approved, joining George Perry’s famous 1932 specimen atop the all-tackle category.
Historic benchmark
George Perry’s bass, weighed in 1932 at 22 lb 4 oz, stood virtually unchallenged for decades. Advances in angling, intensive record-seeking and the spread of Florida largemouth genetics to new waters produced a run of giant fish in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, bringing anglers ever closer to Perry’s mark.
Why giant bass appeared
Fisheries scientists point to a mix of factors: introduction of Florida largemouths or hybrids, newly formed reservoirs with stable warm temperatures, and abundant high-calorie prey such as stocked trout or carp. Those conditions can accelerate growth and produce trophy-sized bass in relatively short time spans.
Management and the record’s future
Lake management and targeted removals have since reduced numbers of trophy fish in some regions. The IGFA’s rule requiring a two-ounce margin means Kurita and Perry remain co-record holders, but experts still believe larger fish may exist in remote or newly managed waters — keeping the race for a sole world record alive.