I recieved this email from Greg V

I have come to the conclusion that Japan will probably not allow the big bass to become a record (JGFA). There is just too much (political)　at stake, with the recent push to make all of Japan "catch and kill" for bass and bluegill. The Japanese government has spent millions of dollars on this program, which includes supplementing the income of the commercial fisherman at Lake Biwa.
> Letting Mr. Kurita's fish become the new Japan record (JGFA) will send the wrong type of message to the taxpayer, and draw unwanted attention to the positive aspects of bass fishing.
>
> Here is where we stand:
>
> I mentioned before a about the distance from the bridge restriction ( the bass was caught near the Biwako Bridge)--It seems that his boat was not within the restricted area, but now they are saying they are going to DQ him because he CAST into the restricted area (which is not legally a "restricted" area anyway). I don't understand? Lake Mission Viejo has a 20 foot from the dock no fishing zone, but that means your boat must not be withing 20 feet when fishing, not your cast. Another example would be the buoy line at Perris, or Casitas. As long as your boat is outside the buoy line, you can cast wherever you want.
> This is weak.
>
> What is weaker is that they are now saying the he "broke the law" to catch the fish due to his bait (a bluegill). Bluegill are not illegal to be used for bait (nobody cares), but they are illegal to release back into the lake alive. The bass "No Release" law includes bluegill and everybody is aware of this due to posted signs all over the lake. But they are now saying that Mr. Kurita "released" a bluegill back into the lake when he pinned it on his hook, and tossed it in front of the giant bass.
>
> This is really pushing it, IMO.
>
> What they don't know, and I just found out today, is that Mr. Kurita is registered, like I am, to be able to release bass and bluegill.
>
> Even so, I sure they will make up something else; they do not want this fish to become a record, because:
> As of two days ago, the paperwork has not even been submitted to the IGFA.
> JGFA is saying that it must pass their scrutiny before he is "allowed" to submit to the IGFA; it should not be this way, as the IGFA is a separate entity.
> It seems it is catch 22 for Mr. Kurita.
>
> There is so much misinformation going around that it is sad, at best. The same type of people that said the Biwa Lake grow fat on all the salmon (there are none) are giving opinions on stuff they know nothing about.
>
> Hope all is going well for you,
> Capt. G

Well it seems this record is cursed and will not be broken. There will always be some sort of political crap blocking it.

Just to clarify the dock rule at LMV is now no fishing or casting within 15 feet of the docks. They are getting strict about this now.

man that is lame

There are many confusing aspects remaining in this whole debacle (how can the Japanese government be actively suppressing this catch but not know the angler is allowed to release bass?). But still, it's a shame the IGFA won't make a ruling or accept an application. Even if it's deemed an illegal catch, if the IGFA certifies its size I think everyone would recognize it as the new record.

Keep your fingers crossed ... the IGFA has the paperwork.

http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?id=6636#6636

Keep my fingers crossed in the sense we want it to be accepted, or we want it to be denied?

if its a legally caught fish, fitting under the IGFA guidelines, then I'm all for it.

>Keep my fingers crossed in the sense we want it to be
>accepted, or we want it to be denied?


Accepted

It's still totally unclear to me whether the guy was fishing in an off-limits area or not.

There's some important questions such as:

Was his boat in an off limits area?
Was he casting in to an off limits area?
Was he casting in to an area that was behind an an off limits line but that it was OK to cast in to?
In Japan are the rules about off limits fishing different than in the US, not enforced, or not cared about?

I feel very strongly that if he was breaking a lake rule then he should not get the record.

Let's USA examples to put this in perspective. Let's say I'm at San Pablo Dam and ...

Let's say its a weekday and I'm being sneaky and fishing close to the marina docks. Whammo, here comes the world record and I land it. Sounds great. But read the EBMUD rules:

5.10 To operate any vessel within one hundred feet of any dock or marina while trolling or fishing unless embarking or disembarking a vessel within the marina.

DQ!

Now let's say I'm at San Pablo Dam and decide to get up next to the buoy line by the dam and make a few casts over the line. Blammo, here comes the world record and I land it. Guess what, legal catch! Oh but, what if my boat was tied to the line while I was fishing, then it's too bad so-sad:

5.04 To tie up to any buoy, buoy line, log boom, boat restraining barrier, float or dock placed in any District waterway except designated mooring buoys or to place any private mooring facilities on any District waterway unless otherwise posted.

DQ!

I happen to think both of these lake rules are stupid rules made up in order to provide jobs to park rangers with nothing better to do, but the bottom line is that as fisherman we have to play by the rules and if you want the world record you damn well better not be bending or breaking the rules to get an advantage.

Bottom line: No one has made a ruling about whether the Japan fish was caught following the lake rules or not. If he was following the lake rules, more power to him. If he wasn't, too bad. If he was breaking the lake rules and knew it, then submitted the record then I think that's just a dirtbag move from the get go.

It's been months now since the catch. Someone needs to sort this out. Let's hope the IGFA gets to the bottom of this. The longer this goes on the more suspicious people get, including me.

I agree Rob but I've assumed everything was on the up and up. I've also assumed that the JGFA confirmed that everything was good before they sent the paperwork on.

The other interesting twist is that bass are held in such low regard by the "officials" in Japan that I wonder if any off-limit regulations even apply. For example, do off-limit areas only apply for recognized "game fish".

The Sept 2009 Lure Magazine (JDM) had only one page (photo & text) on the catch. I started translating the text but I haven't finished. I scanned the page but the file size was ridiculous. I'll see if I can get a smaller file size and post it here.

I'm hoping the Oct 2009 Lure Magazine has more info.

I wonder if Lure Magazine is working on an exclusive story and therefore the details have been few and far between.

Tim

Wasnt captGs email earlier eluding to the fact that the "off limits" rule was derived from the bass tournament rules? So I would assume that it does in fact apply to bass.

All I know is that in business, Japanese companies are very detailed oriented. Sometimes to a ridiculous level. I can't imagine that the JGFA would be any different. I would expect that they may be even more detail oriented in reviewing this case. The last thing the JGFA would want is to be embarrassed by having the IGFA bounce a high profile application that had been reviewed by the JGFA.