Photo Source: Irodfishing, Instagram

a photo shared from iRod Fishing‘s Instagram account shows tournament angler Paul “Big Bait” Bailey with a potential new world record spotted bass that sources say came from the same lake where previous records have been caught, Bullards Bar Reservoir.
The International Game Fish Association’s pending world record is a 10.95-pound spotted bass caught by Lou Ferrante of Sparks, Nevada while fishing a tournament in February at Bullards Bar.

however, the current official world record is a 10.48-pound spotted bass caught a year prior by Keith Bryan. Bryan, president of Powell Rods, caught the spotted bass from New Melones Reservoir in north-central California while competing in a regional tournament on February 22nd, 2014.

a California state record spotted bass was also caught in Bullards Bar Reservoir that was only an ounce shy of the Ifga world record earlier this year.

paul Bailey was doing a filmed promo for iRod Fishing when he landed the fish on a IRG712s “Power Finesse” rod. Known for his 3B guide service, “Big Bait Bailey” ironically landed the fish on light gear.

the 7’1″ medium fast-action rod is designed for 1/8th-3/8th oz. lures on 6-12lb line. Bailey’s Big Bass bit a 6″ Roboworm Fat Straight-tail in Marten’s Magic pattern on 1/4oz. Picasso Shakedown jigheads.

according to Wired2Fish, after several failed attempts, Paul Bailey and fellow angler Matt Newman were unable to get a state biologist to officially weigh the fish and certify the record.

“We didn’t want to kill the fish and wait until tomorrow for someone to weigh it. We were so stoked to have caught the fish on film, including weighing it on three seperate scales. So we decided to let it go and hope for the best. We’re not sure what will happen from here, but we’re still stoked.”

the Instagram post lists the fish as 11.4 pounds, which could be a potential world record, interrupting Ferrante’s current pending world record that had not yet been confirmed. All of the four records have been caught within less than two years.

only time will tell if this record will even be confirmed before it is broken once again.