Possible record Guadalupe Bass

[Zackthefisherman]

Guys I'm currently on the river and just released a guad that was nearly 19inches. I doubt I'll be able to submit it for any records though. I got one picture of it on the hawg trough and then he decided to flop and release himself back in the river before I could get any more pictures or documentation.

I'll look more into submitting it later but atleast I was able to catch this awesome fish.

[Zackthefisherman]

The more I look at the picture I wonder if it is a smallmouth instead of a guad. Its really dark and is lacking the horizontal stripes of a guad. What's y'alls opinion?

Here's a nice guad I managed to catch a few cast later to compare to.

[Zackthefisherman]

Oops double post sorry.

[Zackthefisherman]

Oops triple post sorry!

[honkey1]

I'm not the expert. That would be warthog. Looks more like a smallie to me

[jhb]

Definitely a SMB, unlikely a hybrid.

SMB: closed jaw does not extend beyond eye, long diamond-ish (maybe even tiger stripey) patterns extend from top of back down to belly. Greenish to brownish belly.

Guads: absolutely have the 6-7 horizontal lines on a whitish belly (or much lighter). Jaw does not extend beyond the eye when mouth is closed. Has the diamond pattern starting at top of back and extending down the sides but these don't really ever interfere with the 7 belly lines.

Hybrids: jaw doesn't extend beyond eye when mouth is closed. Usually has the longer stripes/diamonds of the SMB and they extend to the belly and interrupt the 7 horizontal belly lines of a Guad.

I have definite pictures of all 3 and will try to post when I get home. edit: found some, all my catches

SMB, notice the belly is the same color as the back and the diamonds/stripes extend all the way down the belly with no horizontal lines:

Guad, notice the diamonds immediately stop at the belly lines

Warthog and jhb with 2 Hybrids. Warthog's is probably more SMB than mine.

[Zackthefisherman]

Thanks jhb for that great explanation. Man I thought I had a record. It wouldn't have mattered any ways because that's the only picture I got before he escaped. Atleast it was still an awesome fish.

[Jimbo_47]

Nice catch!