By Louie Stout

Giant California Spotted Bass Should Break World Record

Although we don’t have many spotted bass in Michiana, here’s a story worth sharing with our readers.

Check out the photo of this one and see if you aren’t impressed.

Strike King Pro Staffer Cody Meyer caught the 10.80-pound spotted bass Dec. 16th from California’s Bullards Bar reservoir and it’s under consideration as the next world record spot.

Meyer was fishing with friend J.R. Wright on the famed spotted bass lake that produced the current world record. They had already caught three big spots that day – 6.66, 8.35 and 7.74 pounders.

Although spotted bass look similar to largemouth, they have a smaller mouth similar to smallmouth bass, slightly different bar markings down the side, and a rough patch on the tongue.

“I marked one single big fish on my electronics that was suspended about 20 feet down over 100 feet of water,” recalled Meyer. “I cast to it, let the bait sink and saw my line jump.”

Strike King 5-inch Ocho in the KVD Magic ColorMeyer said he knew it was a big fish but had no idea she was that big until the fish surfaced. The behemoth spotted bass ate a Strike King 5-inch Ocho in the KVD Magic color. He rigged it with a size 1 Owner Mosquito Hook wacky style. He used Daiwa spinning gear with 15-pound Seaguar Smackdown Braid and a 6-pound Seaguar Tatsu leader.

“That’s my go-to rig when fishing for these big spots,” he added.

The California Fish and Game Dept. officially recorded the weight and details of Cody’s catch. Once the appropriate paperwork is filed and verified, the agency will decide if the bass will unseat the current world record of 10.48, caught in 2014.

Here's some video of the giant spotted bass.