Japanese angler could gain share of world record

George Perry's largemouth bass world record has been the most coveted standard in all of fishing for 77 years.

Perry caught his 22 pound, 4 ounce giant from Georgia's Lake Montgomery in 1932.

If a Japanese angler's recent catch holds up to International Game Fish Association scrutiny, Perry will have some company at the top.

On July 2, Manabu Kurita was fishing with live bait in Japan's Lake Biwa when he hooked and landed a mammoth largemouth that tipped the scales at 10.12 kilograms - a fraction of an ounce shy of 22 pounds, 5 ounces.

IGFA records for fish less than 25 pounds have to broken by at least 2 ounces. So if the organization approves Kurita's application, there will be a tie for the world record.

Bass fishing has become a huge business in Japan, where Florida-strain largemouth were stocked before World War II. Many Japanese bass anglers now dream of becoming a professional in either the Bassmaster or FLW series where several Japanese already have become quite successful.

Kurita's fish most likely will be the new Japanese record - easily topping the old mark of 19.15 pounds.

Kurita, a 32-year-old who's been fishing for 18 years, reportedly has become an instant hero in Japanese fishing circles.

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SHARP SHOOTER

Will Hoppa of Virginia Beach recently completed a pretty impressive run at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Neb.

Hoppa, who will be a sophomore at Norfolk Academy, has been shooting in the 4-H and Scholastic Clay Target Program for more than three years. He shoots at the Oceana Skeet and Trap Range.

He competed in the national event as part of the Virginia team, earning his spot by finishing second in last fall's state tournament.

At the nationals, the Virginia team finished second in skeet and fifth in sporting clays.

Hoppa was seventh in skeet as an individual competitor.

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TALKING WILDLIFE

Several national wildlife organizations will present town hall-style meetings for sportsmen, focusing on the negative effects of global warming on hunting and fishing.

The meetings are presented by the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the Virginia Conservation Network. Retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Ed Perry gives the free presentations.

A meeting will be held from

6:30 to 8 p.m. July 21 at the Great Neck Recreation Center, 2521 Shorehaven Drive in Virginia Beach.

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QUOTA HUNTS

The state game department is now accepting applications for many of its quota hunts.

The events provide opportunities to hunt for waterfowl, white-tailed deer, dove, rabbit, quail, black bear and turkey in various areas of the state.

Three new hunts are attractive to southeastern Virginia outdoorsmen: a deer hunt near the North Landing River in Virginia Beach, a late season feral hog hunt at False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach and a deer hunt at the Lone Star Lakes complex in Suffolk.

For more information, and to apply for them, visit, www.dgif.virginia.gov, click on hunting, then select quota hunts.

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Results

From the Bob's Fishing Hole Wednesday night largemouth bass fishing series held on the Northwest River: 1. Kevin and Kayla Mills of Chesapeake, 13.65 total pounds; 2. Joe and Miles Spruill of Chesapeake, 8.5.

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UPCOMING

• The 13th Virginia Beach Invitational Marlin Tournament, July 23- 26 out of Fisherman's Wharf Marina in Rudee Inlet. For information, call Paula Owen at (757) 652-8409.
• The Cobb's Marina-Tidewater Angler's Club annual flounder tournament, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 25 out of Cobb's Marina on Little Creek Inlet. Registration is $40 per boat, with winner determined by heaviest 5-fish total weight. There also is a juniors (15-under) heaviest fish contest. For more information, call Don Myers at (757) 640-8891.
• The Virginia Hunter Safety Class, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 25 at Branch 40 of the Fleet Reserve Association, 4060 Military Hwy., Chesapeake. Participation is free, but registration is required. For information, call Gerry McGowan at (757) 771-1248.
• The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Paddle for the Bay will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk. Check-in is at 6 a.m. and pre-registration is $40, or $50 on race day. The fee includes lunch.
• There will be divisions for outriggers, small boats and stand-up paddle boards. For more information, visit, www.mapa1.org
• The 10th annual Fishing for a Cure Flounder Tournament will be held Aug. 1 out of Little Creek and Long Bay Pointe marinas. A captains' meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 31 at Bay Point Marina in Norfolk. The event benefits St. Jude children's Research Hospital and is part of the Hampton Roads Regatta taking place the same weekend. Registration is $160 per four-angler team, and $40 for each additional angler. Winners will be determined by the three-flounder total. For more information, visit, www.hamptonroadsregatta.org

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com