The 10 Biggest Largemouth Bass Ever Caught

These Giants Changed Bass Fishing History

Every serious angler dreams of landing a world-class largemouth bass—but only a few have reached true legend status. Below is a ranked list of the top 10 heaviest largemouth bass ever caught in U.S. waters, based on verified reports and official records.

1. George Perry – 22 lbs 4 oz

• Location: Montgomery Lake, Georgia

• Date: June 2, 1932

• Lure: Creek Chub Fintail Shiner
  Still tied for the world record, George Perry’s legendary catch stood alone for decades. Caught with minimal gear and little fanfare, this bass helped define sport fishing in America.

2. Manabu Kurita – 22 lbs 4 oz (Tie)

• Location: Lake Biwa, Japan (Not U.S., honorable mention)

• Date: July 2, 2009
  Although this fish was caught in Japan, it’s often mentioned alongside Perry’s. For U.S.-only records, the next entry claims second.

2. Mac Weakley – 25 lbs 1 oz (Not Certified)

• Location: Lake Dixon, California

• Date: March 20, 2006
  Note: This fish was foul-hooked and not eligible for record status, but it’s one of the biggest bass ever landed on U.S. soil. Had it been officially certified, it would be the all-time record.

3. Jed Dickerson – 21 lbs 11 oz

• Location: Lake Dixon, California

• Date: June 2003
  A certified behemoth and possibly the same fish Weakley hooked years later. Lake Dixon earned a reputation as a trophy bass factory because of catches like this.

4. Raymond Easley – 21 lbs 3 oz

• Location: Lake Casitas, California

• Date: March 1980
  Caught on live crawfish in a deep hole, this bass remains one of the biggest officially weighed largemouths on record.

5. Bob Crupi – 22 lbs (Spotted Record)

• Location: Castaic Lake, California

• Date: March 1991
  Crupi’s catch was certified at 22.0 lbs. Some records cite different weights due to weighing discrepancies, but it remains one of the most respected U.S. catches.

6. Mark Tyler – 19 lbs 12 oz

• Location: Castaic Lagoon, California

• Date: March 1991
  A bass tournament angler, Tyler landed this monster during practice. One of the largest bass caught during competitive angling prep.

7. John Kerr – 19 lbs 11 oz

• Location: Lake Otay, California

• Date: 1983
  Southern California dominated trophy bass fishing throughout the '80s and '90s, and Kerr’s catch is proof.

8. Michael Arujo – 18 lbs 13 oz

• Location: Lake Isabella, California

• Date: March 1990
  An often-overlooked lake produced this heavy hitter during a lesser-known era of big-bass booms.

9. Preston Clark – 18 lbs 8 oz (Tournament Catch)

• Location: Lake Toho, Florida

• Date: March 2006
  Caught during a Bassmaster Elite Series event, this fish is among the heaviest ever weighed in live competition.

10. Mike Long – 18 lbs 2 oz

• Location: Lake Hodges, California

• Date: March 2001
  Though his reputation later faced scrutiny, this catch was certified and remains one of California’s giants.

What These Catches Teach Us

These historic catches share common threads:

• Season: Most were landed between February and April—prime pre-spawn season.

• Lure Choice: Swimbaits, jigs, and live bait dominate the list.

• Location: California's big-bass lakes, particularly Lake Dixon and Castaic, produced the majority of top catches.

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