Is It A New World Record Largemouth Bass?

Certified weight: 10.12 kg. = 22 lb. 5 oz
Length: 29.4 inches
Location caught: Lake Biwa, Japan

Congratulations to Manabu Kurita, 32, who reportedly is the fortunate angler. Early reports are that the fish was caught just before noon on July 2 on live bait (either a bluegill or a native fish similar to a bluegill).

There is sure to be a lot of controversy over this fish. If it really weighed 22 pounds, 5 ounces it will be considered a tie with Perry's 22 pound, 4 ounce bass since the International Game Fish Association requires a fish to outweigh by 2 ounces one it beats.

A 25 1/2 lb. bass was also reported netted by a fisherman earlier in the year, so many thought it would be just a matter of time before a record size fish was taken from Japan's largest natural lake.

Congratulations to the angler on a great catch.