taken from BassFan.com

"Record intel: pretty quiet 7/3/2009

The day has dawned in Japan and there's not much more to report on the Biwa fish other than it was caught by Manabu Kurita at about 12:00 in the afternoon on live bait. The indication is it wasn't a sight-fish. It was 73.5 cm long and weighed 10,120 grams (28.94 inches – 22 pounds, 5 ounces).

Kurita is a big-bass hunter who caught an 18 1/2-pounder last year, which is the second-largest bass on record in Japan.

The IGFA is reportedly in the process of certifying the fish.

It won't be a surprise if information remains scarce, as it appears that Japanese media – likely Lure magazine – has first crack at the story details."