It's official: Big bass caught in Japan ties world record held for more than 77 years

The International Game Fish Assn. has verified that a 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass caught last July has tied the all-tackle world record held for more than 77 years.

Japan's Manabu Kurita, 32, now shares the record, making his catch on July 2 at Lake Biwa, an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto. The fish measured 27.20 inches in length and 26.77 inches in girth. 

The top-spot had been solely held by George Perry since June 2, 1932, when he landed his record-topping bass in Montgomery Lake, near Jacksonville, Ga.

IGFA, the 70-year-old nonprofit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping body, received Kurita’s application and documentation on Sept. 19, 2009. IGFA announced the decision at its headquarters with a live video feed carried on Bassmaster.com.

Kurita, of Aichi, Japan, was fishing using a live bluegill as bait. He cast to a bridge piling, twitched the bait a couple of times and the lunker hit. After a short, three-minute fight Kurita had the fish in his boat.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Manabu Kurita poses with 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass he caught July 2, 2009, in Japan. The fish ties the all-tackle world record set 77 years ago in Georgia, and was approved by the International Game Fish Assn. today.

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