Lake Biwa International Fishing Guides
For most of the last century, the number at the top of bass fishing was 22 pounds, 4 ounces. That was George Perry's fish from Montgomery Lake, Georgia, caught in 1932. For 77 years, nobody matched it.
Then, on July 2, 2009, somebody did. It happened on a lake most American anglers had never heard of, about 20 minutes by train from Kyoto.
Manabu Kurita, an angler from Aichi Prefecture, was fishing Lake Biwa when he spotted a big bass holding next to a bridge piling. He made one cast to it. The fish he landed weighed 10.12 kg, or 22 lb 4 oz.
It measured 27.2 inches long with a girth of 26.77 inches. In other words, the fish was almost as big around as it was long.
On the scale, Kurita's bass was actually a little heavier than Perry's, by less than an ounce. But IGFA rules say that a new all-tackle record under 25 pounds has to beat the old one by at least 2 ounces. So the fish could not take the title outright.
Because this was the most famous record in freshwater fishing, the IGFA review was one of the most thorough in its history. It took almost six months and included a polygraph test. On January 8, 2010, the IGFA certified Kurita's fish as tying the world record.
Today, George Perry and Manabu Kurita share the all-tackle record for largemouth bass. Two fish of the same weight, caught 77 years apart, on opposite sides of the Pacific.
Largemouth bass are not native to Japan. They were first brought over from California in 1925, and over the following decades they spread to lakes across the country, including Lake Biwa. Florida-strain largemouth were also introduced to Biwa, and many anglers believe those genes are part of the reason the lake's bass grow so large and so thick.
Lake Biwa is not a typical bass lake. A few things set it apart.
It is huge. Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, about 670 square kilometers (260 square miles), and over 4 million years old. It is one of the oldest lakes in the world.
It is full of food. The lake holds a rich population of small fish, and the south basin has thick weed beds, which is rare for a Japanese lake. That gives bass both shelter and an easy living.
Fewer bass means bigger bass. Shiga Prefecture has worked for years to reduce the number of bass in the lake, and since 2003 releasing them has been banned. With less competition for food, the fish that remain have room to grow.
A record fish is rare anywhere in the world, and nobody can promise one. But Lake Biwa is still the lake in Japan where giants live.
Japanese anglers call a bass over 60 cm (about 24 inches) a "rokumaru." On most lakes in Japan it is a once-in-a-career fish. On Lake Biwa, rokumaru are caught often. On our own boats alone, fish over 10 pounds come in several times every year. Every trip out there carries the chance that today is the day.
You do not need a fishing license to fish Lake Biwa. The one rule that surprises visitors is that bass cannot be released.
If a big fish is the goal, the Trophy Bass Plan is a full day for one angler, spent looking for the biggest bass the lake will give that day. It is honest fishing for big fish, which means some days bring very few bites. That is part of the hunt.
If you simply want to feel the pull of a Lake Biwa bass, the Standard Plan is built for that, and beginners are welcome.
Getting there is easy. The JR Kosei Line runs from Kyoto Station to Katata Station in 22 minutes with no transfers, and we meet you at the station.
What is the world record largemouth bass?
22 lb 4 oz. The record is shared by George Perry (Montgomery Lake, Georgia, 1932) and Manabu Kurita (Lake Biwa, Japan, 2009).
Why is Kurita's bass a tie and not a new record?
IGFA rules require a new record under 25 pounds to beat the old one by at least 2 ounces. Kurita's fish was heavier by less than an ounce.
Where is Lake Biwa?
In Shiga Prefecture, right next to Kyoto. It is 22 minutes by train from Kyoto Station to Katata Station.
Can I fish Lake Biwa as a tourist?
Yes. No fishing license is needed. Releasing bass is banned.
The world record came from this water. Come and see what it gives you.
