Here's a pic of the new Japanese record largemouth. The pic is from Lure News Magazine in Japan. The fish weighed 19.4lbs and is the largest bass caught so far this year in the world. Just goes to show that not all the big ones are in California :) I don't know much of the other details on the catch, but it sure is a big one!

http://www.calfishing.com/images/rob/19-4_japan.jpg

They seem to have a similar technique for hiding their fishing spots, har :P

Domo arigato, Mr. Swimbaito! (a little 80's music flashback from the Styx) That fish is huge... very cool. Thanks for sharing with us.

Vince Borrego
vince@theblankslate.com

Oh man, I hope that fish didn't turn into a sh%$load of sashimi. They have a government imposed catch-and-kill policy in Japan now to rid themselves of the chub-gulping bass. I hope it at least ended up alive in someone's aquarium or pond. Any news on which bait it was caught on?

I got the impression that the guy who caught it definitely knew what he was doing and was fishing seriously for bass. That's about all I know other than that. There will probably be more info about the catch from US magazines in a bit.

Maybe Capt. G will read this and give us a little info? Maybe...what do you say Capt. G? You out there?

There's a serious movement in Japan right now to stop the catch and kill policy. It looks like that Bass might still have a chance. The economy has taken a huge hit and everything boils down to $. Even when I graced the pages of CalFishing in my underwear and a sporty life jacket, what Chris didn't reveal was that I was being payed to do that. I can be rented out for 50th wedding anniversaries, birthdays, Bass-A-Thons, even baptisms. $ is the name of the game and time is awastin'

Dang it, I thought we got rid of you. x( Sorry I missed out on the going away party, had to get some rods built.

WTF???

LMAO! :+

Hi there, are you guys talking about me??? :-( if you are, then im sorry for disturbing you. ill stop posting stupid questions.

;)

Brian is talking to Kevin. Just giving him a hard time :)

What bait was this fish caught on? It was on a heavy drop shot rig with this Optimum that I can't remember the name of, but it's not the usual Optimum you see, it's some weird one with these appendages on the sides. I haven't seen it for sale in the US, but it's in the Japanese magazines. If I find a pic, I'll post it. I wouldn't trip too hard on what he caught it on exactly. It was a bed fish and the guy who caught it was a very good fisherman. Sometimes bed fish really respond well to specific baits, but mostly it's the skill of the guy doing the fishing that catches the fish.

Oh okay, now I understand! I wasn't sure what was going on there for a second.

As for that bait, that would be awesome if you could post a picture. The only reason I am inquiring about it, is because I thought it was an awesome idea to drop-shot smaller sized swimbaits. I remember a time this last summer, where these big fish were in this channel that swung right by the bank, and every once in awhile a bunch of them would follow one of my swimbaits in. But the problem was, I couldn't present the swimbait the way I wanted to. You couldn't cast PAST the place where they were holding. I was thinking when I read this, that dropping that dropshot swimbait on top of those fish might be a really good idea!

Just thought it was a good idea, but your point is well taken about it being a bed fish. But there are certain situations, where you KNOW fish are there, you just need to taunt them. That's when I think that idea might work.

Thanks for clearing everything up! :-)

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Since there seems to be a lot of interest in this fish, I will give you all the straight dope. I sent the pic to my buddy Rob, which came from Lure News, Japan, a publication I frequently write for and appear in. The pic is snipped not to hide the spot it was caught, but rather to fit my scanner (it is a scanned image, almost 3 megs). I have other photos, but do not have the rights to use them yet, so you will have to wait for the USA version that will come out soon.
The details, straight from the trophy hunter who caught the fish, MR. Shimada:
Fish: Largemouth Black Bass Florida Hybrid, 8,620 grams, 19.4 pounds
Location: Ikehara Dam, Bingo Arm (there are four major arms)
Rod: 7.4 ft. Evergreen
Reel: Shimano Antares
Line: 25 pound
Rig: heavy down shot rig (4/0 hook, 3/4 oz. sinker)
Lure: Optimum 4 inch
This was a sight fish. Mr. Shimada also caught several more fish over 10 pounds the same week, all sight fishing.
Notes: Ikehara has been kicking out quality fish recently, and my customer, Mr. Nakumura, also a trophy hunter, caught the # 2 Japan fish exactly one week after the 19.4 pound monster. His fish was certified at 16.54 pounds. Way to go, guys.
These guys belong to a loose trophy hunting club called "Marukin". They sight fish, and catch dozens of double 'Ds' and teeners every year. They do not pitch on any site fish unless it is over 10 pounds. Serious to the max. All fish, including the Japan record 19.4 were successfully released. I do not want to get into politics, but the Japanese gov. did not impose a 'catch and kill' policy. There are some lakes, less than .01 % (a tenth of one percent) that have some limited restictions. Maybe I will address this topic in some of my seminars in the future in the USA, as there seems to be a lot of interest/concern/mis-information.
Sorry for the crappy English, I am used to writing and speaking in Japanese. Guess this boy from Cali has been in the land of the rising sun too long (going on 14 years).
Capt. G, doin it G-Style

Capt. G., thank you! Very impressive catch. I don't think the thought of drop shotting anything that heavy ever crossed my mind. (And I'm sure I won't be trying anytime soon)

Those guys are true sportsmen; glad to hear they released those big dogs so they have a chance to be caught again!

capt. g do you guys sell you baits to the u.s.a.?
like all your big trout plugs?
thank you

Can some one repost this picture . I cant find it on the net. Thanks

Jeremiah,

First of all, welcome to the site. I saw your post on the main board :)

Secondly, here's a link to the picture of the Japan record on the optimum baits website

http://www.optimumbait.com/

The last thing I need to ask is that you don't bump old posts to the top. It can be confusing for people who don't remember the old post, then see the post and think it's something new. Right now someone somewhere is going hmmm, new Japan record huh? So please, just reply to posts that are on the first page or so of the forum, and if you want to bring up and old topic, just make a new post.

thanks much,

-Rob

Yea for sure man I understand.I wont do it in the future.

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What optimum 4 inch was he using to catch this fish?