One of the highlights of the recent New Orleans Bassmaster Classic occurred inside the Yamaha booth at the Classic outdoor show. Why at Yamaha? Because the engine manufacturer (in conjunction with Skeeter) now sponsors co-world-recordholder Manabu Kurita. Not only that, Yamaha purchased the world-record mount from Kurita, and it was unveiled for this first time at the outdoor show. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Kurita, who doesn't speak English, told BassFan at the Classic that he'll use proceeds from the sale, as well as his new Skeeter boat and Yamaha outboard, to pursue "a true" world record (not a tie). He said in a BassFan interview last year that was his desire.
"I think I can do it (chase a new record)," he said at the Classic via a translator.
About his experience touring America – his first visit across the pond – he said he's "envious" because so many media outlets cover bass fishing, "from national media to television to local newspapers." He was also surprised to see how popular and well-known he was in America.
He did get to wet a line. He fished Lake Dixon in California where Mac Weakley caught Dotty – a fish Kurita believes would have been a standalone world record if properly weighed. And he fished Bayou Segnette briefly during Classic week. The following week, he planned to visit Montgomery Lake in Georgia where George Perry caught the original record.
