The Florida Fishing Experts
Specializing in Florida Bass Fishing on all of the Florida Freshwater Lakes.

Trophy Fishing on Lake Okeechobee

Today was such an AWESOME day on the water at the “Big O” Lake Okeechobee.

Bill, Larry and Steve had a very great day. Like always happend,we missed some hawgs today but managed to put this nice stringer together.

Bill had on one hawg over 10lbs, when that big fish hit his giant shiner it sounded like a bowling ball explosion. He fought her for a while, it snapped twenty pound big game fishing line like it was paper. That will wait for him on his next trip.

Bye the end of the trip we had over twenty fish up to six pounds!

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer Capt Brett Isackson (bretti@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Silver Division: First Place went to the team of John Bechtold and Bob “O” of Englewood. They weighed in a total of 21.79 pounds. The Second Place team of Jimmy and Dillon McMillan weighed in a total of 18.89 pounds. Third Place overall went to the team Captained by Todd Schlueter with a total weight of 17.56 pounds. The First Place Big Bass went to the team of Brandon & Jared McMillan with a big’n weighing in at 6.26 pounds and the Second Place Big Bass went to the team of Danny “Dennis” Williams and Malcolm McCollum with a 6.01 pounder.

Bass Buster tournament Trail

Gold Division: First Place went to the team of Justice and Shelton of Dania. They weighed in a total of 16.08 pounds and the Second Place Big Bass weighing in at 4.82 Pounds. They buzzed all over the East Wall to chase these fish down. The only team we had fishing Sunday that used 40 gallons of gas and only fished two miles from the marina. Second Place went to the team of Jimmy & Brandon McMillan with a total weight of 15.04 pounds and the First Place Big Bass weighing in at 5.21 pounds. Third place went to the team of Ken Fitton and Mark Brader with a total weight of 14.27 pounds.

Congrates to all the winners.

National Hunting and Fishing Day occurs on the fourth Saturday in September (Sept. 26) and recognizes the contributions anglers and hunters make to fish and wildlife conservation. Since 1972, every president has formally proclaimed National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year, country music star Luke Bryan is the honorary chairman, and the official Web site (NHFday.org) offers great tips on getting started fishing, shooting or hunting and on where to go.

 Hunting and fishing as active outdoor recreation are recognized for the traditional values that they have contributed to our society since Colonial days. More than a century ago, hunters and anglers were the first to recognize that development and unregulated uses of wildlife were threatening the future of many species. President Theodore Roosevelt, a very active hunter and angler, was a vocal proponent and supported their call for the first laws to restrict commercial harvest of wildlife.

They urged sustainable use of fish and game, created hunting and fishing licenses, and lobbied for taxes on sporting equipment to provide funds for state conservation agencies. These user-driven actions were the foundation for some of the most dramatic conservation successes of all time. Populations of largemouth bass, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, wood ducks and many other species began to recover from decades of unregulated exploitation. Sportsmen and women have also contributed countless hours to clean up, protect and enhance millions of acres of habitat for the use and enjoyment of everyone.

In 1971, U.S. Sen. Thomas McIntyre of New Hampshire  and U.S. Rep. Bob Sikes of Florida introduced an identical measure in the House and Senate authorizing National Hunting and Fishing Day. In early 1972, Congress unanimously passed both resolutions, and soon after that,  President Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

This day is considered by many to be the most effective grassroots effort ever undertaken to promote these outdoor sports and conservation. In modern times, this celebration of the enjoyment and health benefits that hunting and fishing bring to participants is especially important. The country is being swept by messages of how being disconnected with nature and spending too much time indoors are affecting the health of the nation. From unprecedented rates of obesity and associated increases in heart disease and diabetes, to a virtual epidemic of attention deficit disorder and increasing prevalence of asthma and allergies among children, research is showing that active, nature-based recreation can significantly contribute to the cure.

Not only is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) a supporter of National Hunting and Fishing Day but it is also a major promoter of the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition (GetOutdoorsFlorida.com).  Get Outdoors Florida! is working to address these health issues that are described as “nature deficit disorder.”  Besides that, by getting outdoors and engaging in activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing, research shows that youth develop greater self-confidence, a sense of responsibility and better social networking skills.  That’s the old type of social networking ─ being face to face with people and with the quiet of nature to facilitate calm conversations in a relaxed setting, rather than the frenetic action of an electronic game or Facebook exchange.

The FWC and most conservation agencies in the United States generally adhere to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which is the envy of almost every other country in the world and key to habitat and species conservation. While celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day, it may be worthwhile to consider the conservation model’s seven basic principles, which enable you to have such great hunting and fishing opportunities:

1. Fish and wildlife are public resources. Throughout the U.S., wildlife is held in common ownership by the state for the benefit of all people.

2. Markets for trade in black bass and other wildlife and sportfish are carefully restricted, removing a huge threat to sustaining those species.

3. States allow sustainable use of sport fish and wildlife by law, not by market pressures, land ownership or special privilege. The public has input into how these resources are allocated.

4. The democracy of hunting is emphasized. In the European model, wildlife was allocated by land ownership and privilege. In North America, anyone in good standing can participate.

5. Hunters and anglers fund conservation, including protections for wildlife species that are not harvested, by purchasing hunting and fishing licenses and paying excise taxes on recreational equipment.

6. Many fish and wildlife species are an international resource. Species, such as migratory fish transcend boundaries, requiring cooperative management.

7. Science is the proper tool for developing fisheries policy. This is a key concept of fish and wildlife management emphasized by Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and many other conservation leaders.

We hope you find an opportunity this Hunting and Fishing Day to celebrate the conservation successes brought about by hunters and anglers.  However, more importantly, we hope you find a way to take a youth with you to have a wonderful, fun and healthy day enjoying Florida’s tremendous fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 888-404-3922. Visit http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/ for more Fish Busters’ columns.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

For decades, we bass anglers have been telling ourselves that a world record largemouth would be worth $1 million — maybe more — to the fisherman lucky enough to catch it. After all, the largemouth is the most sought-after and prized record in the entire world. Surely there’s a king’s ransom to be had.

We’ve had fantasies of ticker-tape parades, television appearances and full page advertisements in all the outdoor magazines. But just how realistic are those fantasies? And how much can Manabu Kurita make on this fish — assuming it’s certified and bigger than the 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught by George Perry more than 77 years ago?

Well, the news may not be good for Kurita. It seems the pot at the end of the world record rainbow may be more hype than gold. Here are 10 reasons Kurita’s bass — even if properly certified — might not be worth a fortune.

1. Made in Japan

No offense to the Land of the Rising Sun here. They’ve been a wonderful ally to the United States for the past 64 years and make some of the finest fishing tackle in the world. But if you’re looking to cash in on a record bass you might want to consider catching it in California, Florida or Georgia rather than halfway around the world. It’s going to be tough for most of us bass anglers to identify with the fishing in Japan and almost none of us are going to pack up and trek out there to give it a try.

2. English Please

Manabu Kurita is probably a fantastic angler, and he’s certainly caught the fish of a million lifetimes, but if he doesn’t speak English and can’t communicate effectively with an American audience and the American outdoors media, he’s going to have a very tough row to hoe when it comes to selling himself and the story of his catch. If there are big bucks to be made off this fish, they’re to be made in the United States and before an English-speaking audience.

3. The Right Lure

The really big dollars to be made off a world record come from marketing the lure that was used to catch it. Unfortunately, the most reliable reports available at this time indicate that Kurita caught the giant bass on live bait — either a bluegill-type fish or some sort of koi. Without a bait to promote, the lion’s share of Kurita’s sponsorship opportunities may be gone.

4. The Right Distribution

The Deps tackle company obviously makes some terrific equipment. After all, Deps made the rod that Kurita used to catch the monster. The problem is that virtually no one in the U.S. — the biggest part of the bass market — has ever heard of Deps or held one of their rods. In order for Deps to take advantage of the buzz created by the new potential record, they’re going to have to mobilize a whole lot faster than most companies could ever hope to mobilize.

5. Wanted Dead or Alive!

In years past, several companies — usually tackle manufacturers trying to ensure that a new record was caught on their bait, rod, reel or line — offered bounties on the world record largemouth. Creek Chub Bait Company, Berkley and BASS were just a few of the companies that had bounties ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 on the fish. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Big Bass Record Club offered as much as $8 million for a record caught by a member. It appears that none of these bounties are offered anymore, and their absence will definitely cut down on how effectively Kurita can monetize his catch.

6. (Insert Cricket Sounds Here)

The latest word from Japan is that Deps is creating a video with Kurita offering details on his catch. Supposedly they’ll be offering it for sale. That might be OK for the casual fan, but for the hardcore and especially for the American media, this simply will not do. We need more and we need it faster. When it comes to record bass, the story is a lot like justice — story delayed is story denied. Kurita, with or without Deps, needs to get his story out, and the sooner the better.

7. Bass of the Great Depressions

What is it about economic strife and big bass? When George Perry caught the record in 1932, the world was in the middle of the Great Depression. Now, as Kurita applies for record status with his fish, the world is in another financial abyss. Just as the tough economic times are hurting us, they’ll likely cut into what Kurita can get for his accomplishment.

8. Fool Me Once

We’re a tougher, savvier audience today than ever before. Back when George Perry caught his record, or even in the ’70s and ’80s when California was establishing itself as the place to go for record class fish, bass fanatics might have believed that the key to catching a record was having the same gear as the angler who caught it. Not anymore. Now we realize that tackle is just one element in the mix, and we’re not going to go out and buy a Deps rod or Toray line just because Kurita used it. That kind of savvy is great … unless you’re trying to make a buck.

9. Jaded

When Mac Weakley foul-hooked “Dottie” a few years back, the angling world got a look at a 25-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass that few could have anticipated. After all, who knew they got that big?! Well, Dottie opened more than a few eyes and plenty of bass experts felt it was just a matter of time before Perry’s record fell to a California bass — Dottie, to be specific. Of course, it didn’t happen. But once you’ve seen the bright lights of a 25-pounder, it’s tough to get fired up over a garden variety 22-pounder, right? Kurita may have earned a share of the record, but his fish was no Dottie, and he’ll suffer the financial ramifications of that.

10. When is a Record Bass Not a Record Bass?

That question is really one for the International Game Fish Association. According to their rules, “To replace a record for a fish weighing less than 25 pounds, the replacement must weigh at least 2 ounces more than the existing record.” Since Kurita’s bass weighs less than 1 ounce more than Perry’s, the two will be considered a tie for the all-tackle mark. Ties, they say, are like kissing your sister, and Kurita’s bank account isn’t going to benefit from that. To really cash in, he needed to break the record, not tie it.

So is a world record bass really worth $1 million? Maybe, but it’s likely worth nowhere near as much as it could have brought a decade or more ago — when a million bucks was really a lot of money and things were a little different. It looks like the record may not be all it’s cracked up to be … at least if you’re talking about dollars and cents.

Click here to JOIN BASS! Till next time tight lines and good fishing…. From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS BassOnline.com is Florida Fishing largest Freshwater Guide Service, specializing in Florida bass fishing in the Florida lakes, canals and rivers. To learn more about Florida bass fishing, visit Bass Fishing Blog. Also visit or sister website Florida Bass Fishing, Lake Okeechobee Fishing, Bass Fishing Florida, Florida Peacock Bass