World Record Bass

In this photo gallery, you'll find images detailing a chronological history of pursuit of the world record largemouth bass since the 1920s.

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Before anyone kept track of world records, the man on the right, Frederick
Before anyone kept track of world records, the man on the right, Frederick “Fritz” Friebel, had the world record for largemouth bass. His fish, caught in Florida from aptly named “Big Fish Lake” in 1923, weighed 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
From 1932 until 2010 George Washington Perry was the king of the bass fishing mountain. His 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth (not pictured here) from Georgia's Montgomery Lake set the standard.
From 1932 until 2010 George Washington Perry was the king of the bass fishing mountain. His 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth (not pictured here) from Georgia’s Montgomery Lake set the standard.
For much of his life, Perry ran an airstrip in Brunswick, Ga., and taught dozens of aspiring aviators to fly. While delivering a plane to Birmingham, Ala., in 1974, Perry was killed when his small craft crashed into a mountainside.
For much of his life, Perry ran an airstrip in Brunswick, Ga., and taught dozens of aspiring aviators to fly. While delivering a plane to Birmingham, Ala., in 1974, Perry was killed when his small craft crashed into a mountainside.
Perry is show here relaxing in his office at his Brunswick, Ga., airstrip just a few months before his death.
Perry is show here relaxing in his office at his Brunswick, Ga., airstrip just a few months before his death.
The family of the late George Perry poses with a replica of his long-standing world record largemouth. The real fish was eaten!
The family of the late George Perry poses with a replica of his long-standing world record largemouth. The real fish was eaten!
Perry's world record largemouth won the <i>Field & Stream</i> Big Fish Contest in 1932, but it wasn't his only winner. Two years later, in 1934, he won with a 13-pound, 14-ounce largemouth.
Perry’s world record largemouth won the Field & Stream Big Fish Contest in 1932, but it wasn’t his only winner. Two years later, in 1934, he won with a 13-pound, 14-ounce largemouth.
Perry profited very little from his famous catch. He received $75 worth of outdoor gear from the Big Fish Contest and an undisclosed amount for this whiskey ad from 1935.
Perry profited very little from his famous catch. He received $75 worth of outdoor gear from the Big Fish Contest and an undisclosed amount for this whiskey ad from 1935.
There are no known photos of Perry's record largemouth, but this might just be a shot of fishing's most famous bass. The man holding the fish is not Perry, but the backdrop appears to be the South Georgia town where Perry weighed the bass.
There are no known photos of Perry’s record largemouth, but this might just be a shot of fishing’s most famous bass. The man holding the fish is not Perry, but the backdrop appears to be the South Georgia town where Perry weighed the bass.
In 2007, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division erected this historical marker to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Perry's record catch.
In 2007, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division erected this historical marker to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Perry’s record catch.
Mac Weakley added to the reputation of tiny Lake Dixon in California with this 19-7 in May 2003. Two years earlier Dixon had given us
Mac Weakley added to the reputation of tiny Lake Dixon in California with this 19-7 in May 2003. Two years earlier Dixon had given us “Dottie,” Mike Long’s distinctive 20-12 catch. Eleven days after Weakley’s 19-pounder, Dottie would be caught again.
Jed Dickerson became the second angler to catch Dottie when she weighed better than 20 pounds in May 2003. At this time, Dottie weighed 21-11, just 9 ounces off the world record.
Jed Dickerson became the second angler to catch Dottie when she weighed better than 20 pounds in May 2003. At this time, Dottie weighed 21-11, just 9 ounces off the world record.
Dottie earned her name from a dark spot on her gill plate that made her very distinctive.
Dottie earned her name from a dark spot on her gill plate that made her very distinctive.
Mike Winn holds Mac Weakley's 2006 catch. This is the last look at Dottie alive; she weighed 25-1. Unfortunately, she had been foul-hooked and was not eligible to be a world record. Two years later, Dottie would be found floating dead on Lake Dixon.
Mike Winn holds Mac Weakley’s 2006 catch. This is the last look at Dottie alive; she weighed 25-1. Unfortunately, she had been foul-hooked and was not eligible to be a world record. Two years later, Dottie would be found floating dead on Lake Dixon.
Manabu Kurita shocked the fishing world with his 22-pound, 4.97-ounce largemouth from Lake Biwa, Japan in 2009. In Jan. 2010, the IGFA certified the bass as a tie with Perry; to claim the world record, it had to exceed Perry's catch by 2 ounces or more.
Manabu Kurita shocked the fishing world with his 22-pound, 4.97-ounce largemouth from Lake Biwa, Japan in 2009. In Jan. 2010, the IGFA certified the bass as a tie with Perry; to claim the world record, it had to exceed Perry’s catch by 2 ounces or more.