[earthworm77]

I dug this up recently on Paul Duclos, there was some question as to why this guy, who is a self proclaimed big bass hunter did not have a scale or weigh a supposed 24lb+ LMB properly, there was also some question as to who labeled him a big bass hunter.....well apparently he did!:

On March 1st, 1997 history was made when a 24 pound bass was caught by Paul Duclos of Santa Rosa, California.

Now, history is replete with the naysayers of the universe of which jumped on the 24 pound bandwagon. Every excuse was made from "live lining trout" to "the photograph was altered" to "the bass was only 20 pounds!"

Yet, the truth is Paul, an avid BIG BASS HUNTER, had a premeditated plan to knock out a massive bass. Paul’s track record to this point was numerous teen + bass out of Spring Lake and his BIG BASS instinct told him they might be larger ones laying in wait. Sure enough, he was correct and shocked the world when he banged this TWENTY-FOUR pound bass. The reason for the naysayers is because of THEIR belief system. The reason that the fish was caught was the talents and BIG BASS HUNTING ability that Paul possesses.

Fast forward five years and we find Paul with over 100 ten pound plus bass. Not only from Spring Lake, yet, Paul has banged huge fish from many other impoundment's in Northern California.

We are honored to have Paul as a member of the WorldRecordBass Hall Of Fame. We are happy to champion him and we wish him continued success and many large fish!

 

[JPBass]

You can put me in the category with the rest of the "naysayers".

I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe a man who "hunts" big fish and is apparently interested in being in the public eye, would simply release a world record fish.

 

[earthworm77]

I'm right there with you JP!

 

[Scott E.]

Craig,

Paul Duclos never claimed himself to be a big bass hunter, it was given to him as was Bob Crupi, Mike Long and 17 year old Cody Peirce. Check out some of his other fish from over the years before this fish: http://www.worldrecordbass.com/gallery.asp?Gallery=4

Also here is a quote from an article from Outdoor Life, written by Jim Mathews.

"The first thing that went through my mind was, 'I've got to show my wife this fish.' It never crossed my mind to kill it," says Duclos. "I wasn't thinking about a world record. I was thinking that, before I let this fish go, I just want an idea of how big she is."

If you would like to read the article: http://www.worldrecordbass.com/article.asp?ID=32

From Catch and Release Foundation Website

The IGFA should create a Catch & Release

Big fish are killed every year in pursuit of a record

I received a letter from Paul Duclos (It's his picture on our home page.) Paul caught a largemouth that he knew would be close to the world record. While he wanted the record he, most importantly, wanted to release the fish unharmed. Since he couldn't get a certified scale to the dock immediately, he called his wife and had her bring down their bathroom scale. Paul weighed himself on the scale and then weighed himself holding the fish. The scale indicated a new world record by more than a pound. Paul then brought the scale to a certification center where it was certified by the authorities. The IGFA turned down Paul's entry.

And, Paul, I'm far as I'm concerned you've won more than the world record. Your unselfish actions won the respect of every fisherman concerned with the future of fishing.

Sincerely,
Paul Carpenter, President
The Catch & Release Foundation

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Paul Carpenter, President of The Catch & Release Foundation.

I support your organization and catch and release. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has been promoting catch and release a lot longer then just about any other organization. However, you should tell the facts about the Duclos catch. He released his bass because he had no idea it was a record. He told us he thought the record was about 27 lbs. And found out after he released the fish the record was 22 ¼ lbs. He sent us his scale. It was not certifiable. We didn’t reject his catch, Duclos asked that we drop it from consideration.

Michael Leech
IGFA President

So did Duclos catch an uncertified world record fish or not and why did he ask to have it dropped from certification???

Maybe he did and maybe the aggravation of the controversy caused by naysayers, such as the live linning trout rumours made it much more worth while to drop, than to fight.

 

[earthworm77]

Scott, I didn't write the info on Duclos, it is his bio from a Big Bass California site.

While I applaud him on his catches including this one, he bailed on it because his actions were incorrect. He certainly is not a hero by any means. He tried to get over, was questioned and backed off because he couldn't provide the necessary evidence. There is nothing honorable about that, despite what was said.

There is no doubt this guy is a big bass hunter. He just dropped the ball that day. Scott, those photos do nothing but further evidence that this guy is a big bass guy who should have taken the fish to a scale. Shame on him! I don't think anyone is questioning the fact that he can catch those big fish. They are beautiful.

Consider the 22lber caught by Bob Crupi: This fish was mere 5 (only because the IGFA will only recognize a fish that is 4ounces over the current record as being the new record) ounces away from being a million dollar+ fish and here you have a guy who if he was dishonorable could have stuffed a hatchery trout down its throat to claim the record.

How about Sandy Defrescos 21 lber that was thought to be a record until it was found to be stuffed with diving weights?

I agree with ther IGFA that Crupis fish is the largest caught to date despite the Montgomery AL, Perry catch. I would even go farther and discredit the current world record because it has a shoddy reputation and certainly was not put under the scrutiny that these modern era fish are.

 

[Scott E.]

Craig,

WorldRecordBass.com is Chuck Bauer's website, he is a big bass hunter from Texas, Chuck and I e-mail each other from time to time, he had shared his articles with me back when BASSIN in NY was still up and running.

From what I was told by Chuck in e-mails back then that Paul in no way even thought he had a record fish, it was not until another fisherman told Paul that he may have caught the world record that he made the call to get a certified scale brought down to the lake, unfortunately the tackle shop owner he called could not leave the shop, that is were the bathroom scale came in. I honestly don't believe Paul was looking to catch a world record, just out for a fun day of fishing for some big bass.

I do agree if Paul had prepared himself properly, documented the fish properly and carried a scale, there might be less doubt cast upon his catch, but I also do believe however even with all things done correctly the naysayers would always find some excuse to try to discredit the possible record.

As I have been told by Bill Warman another big bass hunter in a reply to a post I put up on WorldRecordBass.com about the pending world record, is that the fish most likely will not pass as the certification process has taken suprisingly long. He also agrees the measurements do not add up to what should be a 22.8 lb fish. Here is Bill's reply.

Reply from Bill Warman on WorldRecordBass.com
It is questionable if this fish will make the record. It normally does not take from August until now to make a decision. Although we are speaking about the most sought after record in fishing history.

I am sure that the I.G.F.A. is looking close at these documentations. The I.G.F.A. will not jeopardize their record keeping with a bad decision. The I.G.F.A. will not jeopardize their status as a legit organization with a bad decision.

I have also heard the measurements do not add up. The bass was smaller than Paul Duclos' bass or George Perry’s bass.

Good Luck I hope you did catch the World Record Bass


Sincerely
Bill Warman Hall of Fame’r
http://www.vsps.com/newbass3.htm

 

[Scott E.]

I agree with ther IGFA that Crupis fish is the largest caught to date despite the Montgomery AL, Perry catch.

Craig,

It was Montgomery Lake near Helena, Georgia.

 

[Scott E.]

You may enjoy this one

Check this record bass out

http://espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/s/f_fea_bass_CA_21.7lbs_030530.html

 

[JPBass]

WOW!!

Now that's a bass!!

Certainly does look like the next world record could be coming out of that part of the country.

 

[Scott E.]

Here is the pending WRB

Here is the pending world record bass, doen't look anywhere near as big as that fish JP, might only be 16lbs.

 

[JPBass]

Re: Here is the pending WRB

might only be 16lbs.
QUOTE]

I agree Scott. My uneducated opinion would tell me a bass in the 20 lb. plus class would be of a more deformed shape like the one in the picture above it.

One more note. With the death hold she's got on that big fish it really doesn't look like releasing it unharmed is of the first and foremost concern. If you held a 20 lb. fish like that you'd probably rip it's jaw off.