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They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that couldn\u2019t be more true for Ross Gomez of Post, Texas, who reeled in a 14.74 lb. largemouth bass on the evening of January 22, 2026. But the real story isn\u2019t just the size of the fish; it\u2019s the fact that Gomez had already caught the same bass twice before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Back in 2023, Gomez was targeting crappie of a public dock at Lake Alan Henry when he hooked into the then 13.22 lb. fish. A fellow angler helped him weigh the bass and then told him he should consider donating the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker Program, a program Gomez was unaware of at the time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Toyota ShareLunker Program is a Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) initiative that partners with anglers in hopes of creating bigger, better bass in Texas. Any largemouth caught in the state from January 1st to March 31st can be donated to the program. Donated fish are marked via a small electronic identifier, similar to a pet microchip, and safely transported to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center(TFFC) where they undergo a selective breeding process. The program\u2019s goal is to strengthen trophy bass genetics in Texas lakes and increase anglers’ odds of landing the bass of their dreams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Once the fish spawns, it is returned to the lake where it was originally caught, in this case, the fish was released approximately 3.3 miles from the dock where Gomez caught her. Meanwhile, her offspring are raised at the TFFC, and once they reach the fingerling stage, they\u2019re released into lakes across the state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In 2025, while fishing the same public dock at Lake Alan Henry, Gomez hooked into an even bigger fish. The bass weighed in at 14.78 lbs., and unlike the first time, Gomez didn\u2019t hesitate. He knew the drill\u2014a quick call to the Toyota ShareLunker Program set the process in motion once again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Once in the hands of the TPWD and the ShareLunker Program, the fish was scanned to see if it had been previously caught and submitted, and not only had she been caught, but it was the same fish caught by Gomez in 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
At this time, program coordinator Natalie Goldstrohm said \u201cThis catch is a testament to the great fish care TPWD provides at our hatchery, ensuring these Legacy bass remain healthy so they can be returned to the reservoir. It\u2019s incredible to see her caught again\u2014proof that our efforts give other anglers a chance at landing a fish of a lifetime, sometimes even the same fish twice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
That brings the story back to January 22, 2026. Gomez went out with a friend to the same public dock with crappie on his mind. \u201cIt was just one of those days when the weather\u2019s coming in\u2026and my whole plan was to catch a bunch of crappie,\u201d Gomez said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
When he wasn\u2019t having much luck with the crappie, he decided to switch gears and throw out a Megabass jerkbait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI threw out the lure and while I was bringing it back, I stopped, looked at it, and out of nowhere I saw her come up from the bottom and smash it,\u201d Gomez told TPWD. \u201cI\u2019m screaming to my friend to get the net, and I finally got her up and realized, this is a huge fish.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Gomez weighed the fish, and the scale read 14.74 lbs. He once again called the ShareLunker program, and the fish was quickly picked up by TPWD staff. But it wasn\u2019t until later that the impossible happened, when TPWD staff scanned the electronic tag, the results confirmed that Gomez had caught the same record fish for the third time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t believe it. I was thinking there\u2019s no way this could happen again,\u201d Gomez told MeatEater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
He also offered a simple piece of advice to anglers still chasing their first double-digit bass: \u201cFish even when conditions aren\u2019t ideal. All three times I caught her were not ideal conditions, bad weather the first two times, and the third was right before the arctic front we had. So fish even when it doesn\u2019t seem ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If you find yourself in Texas with a true giant on the line, TPWD encourages anglers to connect with the Toyota ShareLunker Program. Largemouth bass weighing at least eight pounds or measuring 24 inches can be entered for recognition and prizes, while fish weighing 13 pounds or more during the spawning season are eligible for donation into the selective breeding program. Anglers with a qualifying 13-pound bass can call or text the ShareLunker hotline at 903-681-0550 for immediate assistance. Participants don\u2019t just earn a place in the record books, they help strengthen trophy bass genetics across Texas and improve fishing opportunities for future anglers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n