Landing a 14-pound largemouth bass is the kind of catch most anglers only dream about once in a lifetime. But for one Texas fisherman, that dream has happened three times—and remarkably, it appears to be the very same fish each year.
The unusual catch has captured the attention of bass anglers across the country. The fish was caught through Texas’ well-known trophy bass program, which allows anglers to document and track some of the largest bass caught in the state. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas produces more trophy largemouth bass over 13 pounds than any other state in the country.
Even so, catching the same giant bass once is rare. Catching it three times in three years is almost unheard of.
A Giant That Keeps Getting Caught
The Texas angler first landed the massive bass during a winter fishing trip several years ago. After weighing the fish and documenting the catch, the bass was released back into the lake as required by Texas’ trophy bass conservation program.
The following year, the angler returned to the same lake and once again hooked an enormous largemouth bass weighing more than 14 pounds. Photos and identifying marks suggested it was the exact same fish caught the year before.
Then, incredibly, it happened again.
For the third year in a row, the fisherman hooked the same giant bass—recognizable by its distinctive markings and body shape.
Texas’ Trophy Bass Program
Texas has become famous for producing enormous largemouth bass thanks in part to its aggressive conservation and stocking programs. One of the best-known efforts is the Toyota ShareLunker Program run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The program encourages anglers to temporarily loan bass weighing at least 13 pounds to state hatcheries, where biologists collect genetic material and spawn the fish before returning them to the lake.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials, the program has helped improve the genetics of largemouth bass populations across the state and contributed to record-size fish being caught more frequently.
Why Catching the Same Bass Is Rare
While bass are known to return to the same areas of a lake year after year, catching the same individual fish multiple times is extremely uncommon.
Biologists say large bass become cautious after being caught, which can make them even harder to catch again.
However, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department notes that catch-and-release fishing gives large bass the opportunity to survive and grow for many years.
Some trophy bass can live well over a decade, allowing anglers multiple chances to encounter the same fish.
Texas: A Trophy Bass Destination
Texas has become one of the premier destinations for anglers chasing trophy largemouth bass.
According to data from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hundreds of bass weighing over 13 pounds have been entered into the ShareLunker program since it began in 1986.
Many of those fish come from famous lakes such as Lake Fork, which is widely regarded as one of the best trophy bass fisheries in the country.
The state record largemouth bass—18.18 pounds—was caught in 1992 and remains one of the largest bass ever recorded in the United States.
A Catch Most Anglers Can Only Imagine
For most anglers, catching a 14-pound bass even once would be a story worth telling for the rest of their lives.
For this Texas fisherman, the story is even more remarkable.
Hooking the same giant bass three years in a row is the kind of fishing story that sounds almost too good to be true—but thanks to photos and documentation, the catch appears to be the real deal.
It also serves as a reminder of why Texas continues to be one of the most exciting places in the country for bass fishing.
Because in the Lone Star State, even the same trophy fish might be waiting for you again next season.