Thanks for the relayed info Capt G your efforts shouldn't go unnoticed. Maybe now you can change your signature to "the guy that brought world record news to the US"

Just so you know my comments in regards to "the fish having coloring from munchin' too many Biwa Trout" were all in good fun. I in no way meant it as a statement.

I'm stoked for Manabu Karita and anyone that isn't just ain't right. Live bait is....live bait it's a shame and there should be a category for it along with bed fish and northern strains. If it was caught by a meat hunter on live bait that would be one thing,but his intentions were there and he did try to keep the fish alive by the sounds of it. Bottom line is he tracked the fish and found her in a massive lake. Big props goes out to him and the Japanese trophy hunting community. There are some insane sticks over there that pound from the ground and still get it done!