The 10 Biggest Largemouth Bass Ever Caught (World Record Plus State Records)

For many of us, largemouth bass fishing goes well beyond a casual past time.

It’s a passion! Some (like my wife) say it’s an addiction.

The ultimate quest is landing the biggest largemouth bass in the world. Isn’t that every boy’s dream come true?

To break the world’s record could be only a dream, but breaking any big bass record is an adventure worth chasing.

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#1 George Perry

22 lb 4 oz | Jun 1932 | Montgomery Lake, Georgia, USA

The legend named Geoge Perry caught a 22 pound 4-ounce largemouth bass in June 1932. It stands as the IGFA record to this day, 90 years later!

Will it ever get beaten?

On a hot summer day, George was 20 years old when the famous whopper took his bait. Little did he know that his fish would spark a billion-dollar sport fishing industry.

The reliability of how this fish got documented is another reason why this record stands. Details of the event are as amazing as the catch.

We know George was a farmworker. It’s reported he took the day off to go fishing because the weather made it too wet for fieldwork.

After getting such a large bass, serendipity struck again.

George learned about a Field and Stream contest currently in process. He entered his fish and had it officially weighed in. The fish won him the prize, but also secured his place in bass anglers history books to this day!

Biggest Largemouth Bass Ever Caught

Tie for All-Tackle World Record Bass – Manabu Kurita

22 lbs 5 oz | Jul 2009 | Lake Biwa, Japan

It was stunning when a Japanese sportsman was recognized for tying G. Perry’s record. For 77 years, anglers chased after this big bass world record yet, as happy as Manabu Kurita was to catch a record largemouth bass, it would not break the world record.

For those of us wanting to be logged into the history books, you need to have your catch recognized by the International Game Fish Association. This organization is the authority and record keeps of all things regarding fishing. If it is not IGFA, your record can be tainted and suspect.

Unfortunately for Mr. Manabu Kurita, the IGFA rules are quite detailed and strict. The documented rules require any fish less than 25 pounds to be at least 2 ounces more than the current record holder. Not quite a new world record, the girth, and weight make it a record fish.

This 1 ounce means his winning fish does not surpass the 1932 largemouth bass. Instead, he ties George for the winning World Record. This amazing bass created waves of talk in Japan and the regional Asian countries. Meanwhile, in the United States, the legend of the original monster still overshadows all.

#2. Robert Crupi

22 lbs | Mar 1991 | Castaic Lake, California

There are only three men on the books for catching a largemouth over 22 pounds. In just three minutes, Robert caught his whopper using crayfish. Some talked about Bob being born to break the largemouth record. Still 4 ounces short, his time might have passed.

#3. Raymond Easley

21 lbs 3 oz | Mar 1980 | Oak View, California

Talk about impressing your students! On a day when Ray was teaching other less experienced support, he hooked into a 21-pound big fish. He made a serious impact in the bass fishing world by getting his largemouth certified over 20 pounds. Something that took almost five decades to achieve.

#4. Robert Crupi

21 lbs | Mar 1990 | Castaic Lake, California

Robert Crupi began his hot streak of largemouth bass catches in 1990. This giant was the 3rd biggest largemouth recorded by the IGFA. Bob tenaciously chased his trophy for five days, finally getting a hit to remember.

#5. Arden Charles Hanline’s

19 lbs 2 oz | Jan 1989 | Morena Lake, California

A massive 19 pounds 2-ounce largemouth bass caught in the 12-pound-test category. Hanline’s fish landed in winter at Morena Lake in San Diego.

#6. Dan Kadota

19 lbs | Jan 1989 | Castaic Lake, California

Dan, an experienced and proven angular, tried his luck one cold winter day. Putting down a live crayfish to the near bottom of Castaic Lake, he landed a trophy winner. This whopper put southern California on the map as a hot spot for record-breaking largemouths.

#7. Robert Crupi

17 lbs 1 oz | Dec 1990 | Castaic Lake, California

Another magazine-worthy largemouth brought in by Bob. Crupi proved that changing bait can produce a record catches as his fish munched down on a herring jig. A fish story for the ages, Robert fought with his bass for 15 minutes using only 4-pound-line-class.

#8. Cody Pierce

17 lbs | Mar 2000 | Murray Reservoir, California

Young Cody had a passion for fishing. The teen got up extra early that March morning. Cody wanted to get some quality fishing time in before his school day even started. After some success, he thought just one more cast.

To his surprise, he landed a record size fish. Running down to a nearby ranger station, he managed to get in a formal weigh-in before letting it go.

#9. Larry Kurosaki

16 lbs 12 oz | Feb 2009 | Castaic Lagoon, California

Larry liked using fly tackle. In 2009, his technique paid off while working his style on Castaic Lagoon. A little custom minnow fly was all it took to attract a big largemouth, weighing over 16 pounds.

#10. Terry McAbee

16 lbs 9 oz | Mar 1998 | Lake Isabella, California

McAbee proudly shows off his top 10 World Record largemouth. Terry caught his certified winner by using the common rubber worm. Record setters like Terry’s support why some angular swear by artificial worms for luring lunker largemouth bass.

State Records for Largemouth Bass

Bass fishing has evolved to become a big business. We moved a long way from the day when George Perry won 50 dollars back in 1932. For example, Ott DeFoe won $302,000 in a single tournament in 2019.

The excitement of watching and participating in competitions can add new elements to a person’s fishing experience. Earning huge cash prizes as a pro angular can make a person envy such a career. But events can be chaotic and frenzied, so it’s not for everyone.

Yet capturing a state’s largemouth record is more accessible. For pro or amateur alike, it is a source of genuine pride. Can you imagine having your name etched in the record books?

To passionate fishermen, holding a state record is equal to becoming a living legend. See what it takes for your name to get added to the chart below. What’s your current fishing record? Implementing various bass fishing tips can help you land a big one.

State	Weight	Location	Angler	Year
Alaska	0.5 Lbs	Sand Lake	N/A	2018
Alabama	16 lbs, 8 oz	Mountain View Lake	Thomas Burgin	1987
Arizona	16 lbs, 7 oz	Canyon Lake	Randall White	1997
Arkansas	16 lbs, 5 oz	Lake Dunn	Paul Crowder	2012
California	21 lbs, 12 oz	Lake Castaic	Micheal Arujo	1991
Colorado	11 lbs, 6 oz	Echo Canyon Reservoir	Jarrett Edwards	1997
Connecticut	12 lbs, 14 oz	Mashapaug Pond	Frank Domurat	1961
Delaware	11 lbs, 10 oz	Wagamons Pond	AJ Klein	2016
Florida	17 lbs, 4 oz	Unnamed Lake	Billy O’Berry	1986
Georgia	22 lbs, 4 oz	Montgomery Lake	George Perry	1932
Hawaii	9 lbs, 9.4 oz	Waita Reservoir	Dickie Broyles	1992
Idaho	10 lbs, 15 oz	Anderson Lake	Mrs. M.W. Taylor	N/A
Illinois	13 lbs, 1 oz	Stone Quarry	Edward Walbel	1976
Indiana	14 lbs, 12 oz	Unnamed Lake	Jenifer Schultz	1991
Iowa	10 lbs, 14 oz	Lake Fisher	Patricia Zaerr	1984
Kansas	11 lbs, 12.8 oz	Private Pit Lake	Tyson Hallam	2008
Kentucky	13 lbs, 10.4 oz	Wood Creek Lake	Dale Wilson	1984
Louisiana	15.97 lbs	Caney Lake	Greg Wiggins	1994
Maine	11 lbs, 10 oz	Moose Pond	Rodney Cockrell	1968
Maryland	11 lbs, 2 oz	Private Pond	Rodney Cockrell	1983
Massachusetts	15 lbs, 8 oz	Sampson Pond	Walter Bolonis	1975
Michigan	11 lbs, 15.04 oz	Big Pine Island Lake	William Maloney	1934
Minnesota	8 lbs, 12.75 oz	Tetonka Lake	Joseph Johanns	1959
Mississippi	18 lbs, 2.4 oz	Natchez State Park Lake	Anthony Denny	1992
Missouri	13 lbs, 14 oz	Bull Shoals Lake	Marvin Bushong	1961
Montana	8 lbs, 12.8 oz	Noxon Rapids Reservoir	Darin Williams	2009
Nebraska	10 lbs, 11 oz	Sandpit Near Columbus	Paul Abegglen Sr.	1965
Nevada	12 lbs even	Lake Mead	Micheal R. Geary	1999
New Hampshire	10 lbs, 8 oz	Lake Potanipo	G. Bullpit	1967
New Jersey	10 lbs, 14 oz	Menantico Sand Wash Pond	Robert Eisele	1980
New Mexico	15 lbs, 13 oz	Bill Evans Lake	Steve Estrada	1995
New York	11 lbs, 4 oz	Buckhorn Lake	John L. Higbie	1987
North Carolina	15 lbs, 14 oz	Private Pond	William H. Wofford	1991
North Dakota	8 lbs, 7.5 oz	Nelson Lake	Leon Rixen	1983
Ohio	13 lbs, 2 oz	Private Pond	Roy Landsberger	1976
Oklahoma	14 lbs, 12.3 oz	Cedar Lake	Benny Williams Jr.	2012
Oregon	11 lbs, 9.6 oz	Private Pond	Randy Spaur	1994
Pennsylvania	11 lbs, 3 oz	Birch Run Reservoir	Donal Shade	1983
Rhode Island	10 lbs, 6 oz	Johnson’s Pond	Brandon Migliore	2016
South Carolina	16 lbs, 2 oz	Lake Marion	P.H. Flanagan	1949
South Dakota	9 lbs, 3 oz	Hudson Gravel Pit	Richard Vierick	1999
Tennessee	15 lbs, 2 oz	Chickamauga Lake	Gabe Keen	2015
Texas	18 lbs, 2.8 oz	Lake Fork	Barry St.Clair	1992
Utah	10 lbs, 2 oz	Powell Lake	Sam Lamanna	1974
Vermont	10 lbs, 4 oz	Lake Dunmore	Tony Gale	1988
Virginia	16 lbs, 4 oz	Connor Lake	Richard Tate	1985
Washington	12 lbs, 8 oz	Lake Bosworth	Bill Evans	2016
West Virginia	9 lbs, 9.9 oz	Dog Run Lake	Eli Gain	2001
Wisconsin	11 lbs, 3 oz	Ripley Lake	N/A	1940
Wyoming	7 lbs, 14 oz	Private Pond	Dustin Shorma	1992

Other Notable Records

World Record Smallmouth Bass

David Hayes

11 lb 15 oz | Jul 1955 | Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee, USA

Mr. Hayes is reported by the IGFA to be the world record holder for smallmouth bass. His story is not without drama. When a vengeful dock worker reported that motor parts were put into the fish to make it weigh heavier, his title was initially revoked.

Many years later, an investigation was launched because of ongoing disputes. At 80 years old, Mr. Hayes lived to see his world title reinstated.

World Record Striped Bass

Gregory Myerson

81 lb 14 oz | Aug 2011 | Long Island Sound, Westbrook, Connecticut, USA

Greg has many fans and respected in the industry. His innovations and competitive spirit have allowed him to win multiple tournaments and currently hold two world records. Greg fondly recalls fighting with his 81lb monster, even earning some bruised ribs during the battle.