Having been in the Japanese media business for over 10 years, and being published exponentially more than any other non-Japanese (ie round eye American) , I still maintain contacts/friends with even the publications that I currently do no work for.
That said, I heard about this fish even before it was weighted. Several of my crew were fishing at the lake as well, so in addition to the press release that anyone in the media can get, a had a whole file full of info on the fish, where, and what it was caught on, and even cross reference witnesses that had seen much or part of the historical event. Me being a "cog in the wheel", I was asked, and I also thought it was prudent to release the info the way the people directly involved wanted it released.

I was asked by the inner circle to inform the bass guys (loose term) in America with the confirmed data they provided me with.
So, I put together a short info release, and decided where to send it.
It went to some individuals in the USA tackle industry, who share info/data with me, and I thought California, being a player in the WR hunt, should be specifically notified. So, I sent the info to Bloodydecks, specifically the Bass Forum. I was quite amazed to find that in one day there were over 13,000 views, and several dozen comments. The other web site I sent it to, at the same time as Bloodydecks was Calfishing.

I was really surprised that my account had not been deleted/banned.
I was also surprised that after posting, and the first several hundred views, there was not a single comment! Hell, you can post about an new hunk of plastic that barely swims, and the first one hundred views will draw several comments. Also, at in the same time frame, I got some great (makes me laugh!)@hate mail, saying that my post (did not specifically say which site) would be locked, or deleted for outright lies. Another said that I should not be "funny" by starting a hoax. Remember, the first info that I posted was only the place caught, and weight and length. I did not even list Mr. Karita's name because it was mysteriously absent from on of the press releases. I figured this was because Mr. Kurita wanted to be the first to release this, so I respected that.

To continue, the was a "problem" with the last time I posted a year or so ago on Calfishing. Something about posting incorrect (ie lies) for the sole benefit of some undetermined reason.
So, rather than cause a problem for my friend Rob Belloni's site, I bowed out, even though I had not posted a single "lie" in the aforementioned post, or ever, on this site.

You see, if you are caught writing (posting) any "lies" in the public forum (newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.) you are pretty much done. Not to mention the libel (pls. google this, as many do not know the REAL meaning) legal issues.
Also, I have been in the Japanese media industry, and tackle industry for twelve years. I get paid really nice fees from my writing, photo shoots, and a stupid sum of money on the back-end.

I get nothing (and expect nothing) for writing anything for Calfishing. I write things on here to educate/give back to the big game we call "Bass Fishing" and all love so much.

So, I came back after a year to inform you all of something that was to rock the bass fishing world--a pending WR Largemouth Black Bass, because I truly believe that MOST of you on this site@want and deserve to know

Good fishing to all of you,

Capt. Greg Vella:-)

"Known as the person who introduced swimbait fishing to Japan"