Falcon Chimes in: Toyota ShareLunker 510

Larry Hodge, 903-676-2277, larry.hodge@tpwd.texas.gov

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ATHENS—Falcon International Reservoir kicked in its 12th entry ever into the Toyota ShareLunker program January 31, a 13.22-pound fish caught by Ky Martin of Grandview, Texas. The fish was 25 inches long and 20.5 inches in girth.

Martin caught the fish about 2:00 p.m. and took it to the official ShareLunker weigh and holding station in Zapata, Robert’s Bait and Tackle, to await pickup. Martin was pre-fishing for a Bass Champs tournament when he caught the fish and is not releasing details on the catch at this time.

The fish became the fifth entry submitted in January, tying the current season for second in number of entries for the month with January of the 1991-92 season. The 1994-95 season saw the highest number of January entries ever, seven.

And now for the rest of the story: The 1994-95 season holds the record for the most entries, 36, and the 1991-92 season had 33, tying for second-highest number of entries with the season just past, 2009-2010.

Time will tell what this means, if anything, about the total number of entries the program will receive this season.

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or 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.

For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, see tpwd.texas.gov/sharelunker. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.