With out a doubt it would have to be George Perry's hoax. The George Perry story has always bothered me. It just doesnt add up. According to those maesurments that fish should have weighed over 25lbs. I think that fish could have been a striper. Maybe George knew the diference but maybe the people at the post ofice didnt. Once they told him about the field and stream contest he let them believe it was a large mouth. The facts are there was no pictures and no head or any other remains, and the biggest factor of them all is the numbers simply dont add up.
to put it in perspective Mike Longs fish was 27x27 and weighed 20lbs 12oz.
Jed dickerson's fish was 28 1/2 x 26 3/4 and weighed 21lbs 11oz.
Jeds fish was only 1 1/2 inches longer and 1/2 less in girth than Mikes and it weight a pound more.
Perry's haox was 4inches longer yes 4 INCHES and 2 inches fatter than Jeds but it was only 9oz heavier?
I think His record should be removed and the rightful owner BOb Crupi should be crowned. I know why that false record still stands. Because it gives everybody something to shoot for and its been around for ever but That doesnt make it right. Do the math its that simple.
What do you guys think?

www.mattlures.com

I think they should let the old record fall and give it to the rightfull owner, this record was just set too long ago! Who knows how accurate the scales were back then? No pic's NO PRIZE!

Hey let that Bass go I wanna catch her some day
http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/tmcustoms/

At the IFGA museum there is a picture of him with his bass. I saw it myself when I went there last year. The picture looks ligit but the fish size looks close to that of Jed's fish.

The biggest bass I have seen in a picture is Paul Duclos's bass. Now he released it and weighed it on a bathroom scale to be around 24 pounds. I don't know the measurements off the top of my head, but I believe that was the record fish. So who knows someday it will fall with all the advancements in technology and SO many people out there fishing for it.

The fact is no one " Really" knows for sure. Just what if it was a Largemouth and it did weight 22.4lbs. What if it didn't? I agree that it does not add up. Also wouldn't Georges fish be a northern strain? Have you ever heard of a northern being that big? Not me. There have been several fish caught in recent years that are claimed to be bigger than 22.4 but have not been certified. I do not belive those stories either. Who knows for sure but I can tell you that the record will fall and it will be under the strongest micorscope. Just as it should be.

Ive always felt Perrys weight was questionable, mostly due to the scales that were used. After Matt laid out the measurements, it definitely seems questionable. However, I think it should stand just because. Plus, if it was removed the new WR owner probably would not feel comfortable with having the record, and the new WR would always be surrounded by scandal and criticism.

And I agree, Duclos's fish looks totally legit, that fish no doubt was absolutely huge. The thing I cant figure out about that though was that Duclos was touted as a trophy hunter, yet he didnt know what the world record weighed. Thats very, very odd.

And we all know that Crupi's fish cant ever be considered for a record since DFG officials never witnessed, in person, that fish to determine it was indeed a largemouth. I know, I know, Crupis fish kinda looks like a smallmouth. Yeah right.

The one thing that has bothered me the most about the w.r. is the fact that the lake ,let alone the state hasnt produced another trophy Bass even close to the fish holding the record right now.Who knows maybe the rumors of weights in the fishes gut were true?I have seen pics of George with some nice fish, but not that nice.
Tight lines,
brian

magmaster, do not take this the wrong way I am not attacking you. You did not see George with his world record bass. It was NEVER photographed. There are picture with his family standing around a replica that fit George's measurements. Ther might even be a pic of him with the replica but it wasnt cast off a real fish, it was carved. He has also caught other big bass and even one a few contests with large bass but nothing even close to his suposed WR. There were only 2 interviews that he personaly did. I am Ok with him eating it and no pictures but the measurments just dont add up.

www.mattlures.com

The fact that several fish have come so close to the record makes me believe that it's legit. That fish was right at the peak weight that a largemouth bass can become. How could that have happened, a coincidence?

I don't belive that fish was a striper. A striper with the lenght of Perry's fish would've only been around 15lbs. Stripers just don't have the girth.

The biggest factor is the numbers not adding up. Could it be possible that the formulas for determining trout fed Cali bass wouldn't have worked on that fish?
Or could the numbers be right and the post office scale was weighing light? Maybe his bass was in fact over 25lbs. Unlikely but possible.

The fact is, none of us will ever know for sure. I just feel that there are theories on either side that can prove or disclaim his catch. Maybe we should have a jury decide :)

bottom line is you catch a 22-6, you can claim it- As far as a northern going 22-4, that fish was caught in Georgia- umm, not a northern strain, probably an epic old gal that had the kind genes! No use trying to disclaim Mr. Perry's fish, it's set in stone- you can have 10 cups of crybaby soup, it doesn't matter- go get yourself a 22-6 then start talking. Call up the guys from Myth Busters and have them prove it wrong, until then be quiet and respect the greatest fishing record ever... }(

Myth busters would be cool! but I can not respect the lie. Bob Crupi caught the largest recorded and properly documented bass ever period!
I like the cry baby soup thing though :-)

www.mattlures.com

Anyone seen an 11-15 smallie lately? I bet not- but it was a different place back in the day, they used to rope 100-200 lb. bluefin out of Avalon in the early 1900's, triple didgit bluefin only a short row away from the island- we're living in a different world, I would bet the farm on Perry's record. If you can explain why the triple digit crewcuts aren't going nuts on schools of chovies on the 14 mile bank, you might be able to explain the 22-4 from Georgia in 1932. ####, I bet there were Seminoles spearing bass in Florida at least that size in 1925. When's the last time you saw an angler with a 550 lb. black sea bass in Long Beach? Please explain this mystery to me

Matt, I hear you- Crupi, Danny K, that kid that got the 21 something on the leadhead trout in 91' at Castaic- lots of talent and stuff, but I still think there were better opportunities back in the day- :D