It took 20 years for me to land this world record sea bass weighing 8.63 kg (19 lb 0 oz). This incredible fish surpasses my previous record from 2004. It was caught on a 12 cm soft lure with a 35 g jig head.
I was targeting big bass during the high tides of September. I caught several large specimens, some reaching 6 and even 7 kg, and I could feel the record-breaking bass was within reach!
And then came this exceptional fish, smashing my previous record from 2004. This magnificent 8.63 kg sea bass was caught on September 21, 2014, and is officially recognized as a world record by the IGFA on light line. Here is the story of that catch, with the photo at the very bottom of this article.
The Pursuit of Big Bass
I have always been obsessed with chasing big fish, starting with large sea bass. For all bass anglers, the dream is to land a truly impressive specimen and beat personal records. But there is a real difference between a 1 kg bass and one over 4 kg. You need to be ready to face the beast—and that requires careful planning: the right timing, the right spot, the right technique, and the perfect presentation of lure or bait. When everything aligns, catching big bass can become consistent, just like the 7.4 kg bass I landed from the shore in 2007.
When you’re starting out or fishing for different species using fine surfcasting rigs, it’s common to have a hook break on a strike from a large fish. If you’re a surfcasting specialist or a competitor, and the big bass isn’t your target, this isn’t a huge problem. But if your goal is to land trophy fish, that’s a technical mistake. The fix is simple: strengthen the leader, upgrade components, especially the hook. The same logic applies when fishing with lures.
Losing a big fish among rocky coastal structures due to a line that’s too light is always frustrating. It’s even worse when a record fish, almost within reach, can’t be landed because you don’t have a net. That’s a clear technical mistake—or perhaps a lack of ambition. These are the things you must master if you truly want to break records and consistently land sea bass over 4 kg.
Marking Spots and Recording Tide Times
A photo of a sea bass over 80 cm caught from the shore is undeniably inspiring. But such catches don’t happen every day, and it would be a shame to miss a monster fish due to a simple oversight.
5 kg sea bass caught from shore.
Consistency in landing large fish is key. Big bass favor certain spots while ignoring others. Some areas naturally concentrate larger specimens. If you haven’t seen a bass over 1.5 kg all season, move on—the area is probably unproductive. Exploration and accepting occasional blank sessions are part of the process.
Every large fish caught or spotted should be recorded in a logbook, along with tide times and coefficients. Keep in mind that big bass are usually drawn to prey that provides a substantial caloric reward in a single bite. Live or dead fish are ideal, as well as white baits like cephalopods and shellfish.
With lures, it’s a different story. Sometimes a large surface lure attracts a big bass, other times a tiny soft lure triggers a monster strike. A lure isn’t just food—it challenges the bass’s territorial instinct, provoking it to neutralize the intruder near its refuge, regardless of size. In short, when feeding actively, a trophy bass prefers a large prey; when less active, downsizing to smaller lures often works better.
Equipment to Land a Record Bass
A world record bass exerts tremendous pressure on your leader. It will dart toward abrasive refuges in its habitat. Always be prepared, and anticipate the possibility of a trophy strike before casting. Use robust, appropriate tackle, and have a net or scale ready. You must be able to land the fish safely without taking unnecessary risks. When faced with a record bass, the temptation to land it at all costs is intense, but patience and preparation are key.
Increase your leader diameter accordingly. At dawn, dusk, or at night, the leader is less visible. Fluorocarbon stealth is less critical than in broad daylight with clear water. The key across all locations, from shore or boat, is seasonal timing and the right tide. Rising tides with coefficients between 65 and 90, from September to November, are optimal for finding record bass.
My World Record Bass
This Dicentrarchus labrax weighing 8.63 kg was caught above a rocky outcrop. I started with a long drift over the rocks. After catching two fish consecutively at a GPS point, I decided to prospect around it using my custom TimeZero bathymetry combined with my fish finder, and discovered a 4 m drop-off parallel to the shore, 20 m away.
I hovered vertically over the spot using my powerful, precise 1 kW Chirp sonar. A few big bass were holding there. With a slightly more precise drift over the rock ledge, I hooked some fine specimens. The next day, at the same spot, on the very first drift, I landed this exceptional “labrax”!
