The 21st season of Texas' ShareLunker program officially began Oct. 1. Last season, 32 fish were entered into the program, and two fish from the season made the list of the 50 biggest largemouths ever caught in Texas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) uses the big fish in a selective-breeding program aimed at improving the genetic makeup of largemouth bass in selected Texas public waters. The ShareLunkers, which are all female, are spawned with males that are descendants of ShareLunkers. The resulting fry and fingerlings are then stocked into public waters in Texas. Last season, ShareLunkers produced 168,000 fry as well as 43,700 1 1/2-inch fingerlings as part of Operation World Record.
Anyone who legally catches a 13-pound or heavier largemouth from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30, may submit the fish to the ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550, or by paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours. Anglers who enter fish into the program receive a free replica of the fish, a certificate, and ShareLunker clothing. They're also recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens following the close of the season. If a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the season, he or she receives a lifetime fishing license.
> For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, click here.
