Record Largemouth Bass – Biggest Bass of 2026
On February 15, Damian Thao of Fresno, California landed the fish of a lifetime while fishing from his kayak on Eastman Lake. It was around midday when Thao positioned his Hobie kayak near a deep submerged tree on a tapering point — a spot that had already produced big fish earlier in the morning. He had caught and released giant largemouth bass weighing 7.5 pounds and 10 pounds before the giant bite happened.
He knew record bass were in the lake, and had heard rumors of state record bass possibly being in the lake, but never guessed he would hook into a largemouth bass approaching the California state record for a largemouth bass. A record California largemouth bass is rare, with the record California largemouth bass weighing over 20 pounds.
Fishing with a 9-foot Dobyn’s Champion rod paired with a Shimano 4000-size reel spooled with 30-pound fluorocarbon line, Thao cast an albino pearl swimbait toward the sunken tree. After letting the bait sink, the lure briefly hung in the branches. When he snapped the rod to free it, the lure shot loose — and that sudden movement triggered a strike.
Once the bass was in the net, he realized it was far bigger than he first thought. The massive girth and length shocked him. A quick check on his kayak scale showed 17.7 pounds, but rough water and wind made him question the accuracy.
To get a better reading, Thao secured the bass with a fish gripper attached to a kayak leash and paddled to shore where conditions were calmer. On the way, he met up with his friend Mike Moua, who weighed the fish on a boat scale that read 17.46 pounds.
Knowing the bass might be a lake record, they decided to find a certified scale. Since it was Sunday and most places were closed, they placed the fish in a well-aerated livewell and drove about 20 minutes to Madera.
On certified scales and in front of witnesses, the giant largemouth bass officially weighed 18.75 pounds, measuring 27 inches long with a 25-inch girth — an incredible catch and one Thao will never forget.
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