Monster largemouths are laborious to come back by, which is what makes catching them such an exciting expertise. For many anglers, reeling in a lunker over 13 kilos is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Doing it greater than as soon as is proof of some critical fishing prowess. However crappie angler Ross Gomez utterly defied the chances when he caught the identical Texas trophy largemouth bass, not simply as soon as, however twice from the identical spot two years aside.
In February 2023, Gomez landed a 13.22-pound largemouth bass whereas fishing Lake Alan Henry Reservoir, close to Lubbock, Texas. Two years later, on Feb. 12, 2025, Gomez caught one other huge bucketmouth from the identical dock, this one weighing 14.78 kilos.
“I used to be really standing in the identical actual spot on the dock that I caught the fish the primary time,” Gomez tells Outside Life.
With the wind howling and the fog transferring in, Gomez says the climate was removed from best. The day was lots like the primary time he caught the massive largemouth when the wind blew laborious out of the north and the wind chill dipped to 25 levels. Each days, Gomez had the water all to himself.
“You possibly can’t catch them until you’re casting that rod. In my expertise, among the worst days are one of the best fishing days,” Gomez says. “My recommendation is don’t let the climate dictate whenever you’re going to go fishing. So long as you’re protected, simply get on the market and do it.”
Gomez wasn’t even concentrating on largemouths both time. Gomez, an avid crappie angler, was tossing a inexperienced and white paddle tail, hoping to catch just a few panfish. He dropped his Garmin Striker 4 Fishfinder within the water to see the place the crappie have been sitting.
“After I put it within the water, there was nothing on the display. Like, nothing in any respect. However I figured I used to be on the market, so I would as nicely give it a shot,” Gomez says. “I threw that paddle tail about three or 4 instances, and she or he hit the bait. I felt this regular strain, nearly like whenever you get snagged. Then she began taking line.”
With solely 8-pound line and a 5-foot crappie rod, Gomez needed to alter the drag and let the fish tire. He additionally forgot his internet that morning, so when he lastly acquired it in near the dock, he needed to carry out some gymnastics to get the fish out of the water with out snapping his gear.
“I laid on my left aspect and held my rod above my head. I angled it again towards my toes in order that I might get her nearer,” Gomez says. “Then I struggled with my left hand, which was laborious as a result of I’m not left-handed, to try to seize her. She lastly got here throughout good, and I used to be in a position to attain down and and decide her up.”
His two spectacular catches make Gomez a two-time member of the Toyota ShareLunker program’s Legacy Class, which acknowledges anglers within the Lone Star State who catch trophy largemouth bass that weigh no less than 13 kilos between January and March of every yr. Legacy Class members additionally mortgage their catches to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division for spawning season. Launched in 1986, the ShareLunker program borrows and breeds the most important bass caught within the state to beef up the Lone Star largemouth genetics.
Shortly after Gomez submitted his 2025 lunker, TPWD confirmed via genetic testing that his most up-to-date catch (ShareLunker 674) was the identical fish he submitted in 2023 (ShareLunker 641).
As a part of this system, TPWD will reward Gomez a reproduction of his catch, which he plans to hold on the wall subsequent to his 2023 duplicate of the identical fish. In the meantime, ShareLunker 674 is spending one other breeding season on the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Heart earlier than being launched again into Lake Alan Henry Reservoir. Hopefully, TPWD may even launch 1000’s of her fry into Texas waterways.
Gomez’s Texas trophy largemouth spawned 33,649 fingerlings in 2023, based on a TPWD press release. After its preliminary keep on the fisheries heart, TPWD launched the fish greater than 3 miles from the dock the place Gomez hooked it.
“This catch is a testomony to the nice fish care TPWD offers at our hatchery, guaranteeing these Legacy bass stay wholesome to allow them to be returned to the reservoir,” Toyota ShareLunker program coordinator Natalie Goldstrohm stated in a statement. “It’s unimaginable to see her caught once more — proof that our efforts give different anglers an opportunity at touchdown a fish of a lifetime, generally even the identical fish twice.”
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Gomez says his ShareLunker catches might have transformed him to bass fishing. He and his spouse not too long ago purchased two Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 kayaks.
“I’m seeking to improve from dock fishing, however I’m not fairly prepared to maneuver to a ship but,” Gomez says. “I determine it’s time to get on the market and begin performing some actual fishing.”
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