Texas now has over 400 ShareLunker entries for 2018. Robert Crane caught his 8.3-pound "Lunker Class" bass at Oak Creek Reservoir in August. Through the middle of September, anglers entered 422 bass weighing between 8 and 15.48 pounds in the ShareLunker program. During the first 31 years of the 32 years old ShareLunker program anglers donated 570 13-pound or heavier bass to the program.

After more than year of review TPWD moved to overhaul the program as part of a shift in research and hatchery production.

The new ShareLunker Program:
TPWD shifted the ShareLunker season from a few months in winter and spring to a year-round project for 8-pounds to 12.99 pounds, measuring 24 inches. The 13-pound or heavier bass season retains the winter – spring months only. The smaller bass, 8-12 pounds are divided up into four categories. Lunker is for bass measuring at least 24 inches and weighing 8 – 9.99 pounds. Lunker Elite is for fish weighing between 10 to 12.99 pounds. Lunker Legend are for bass 13-pounds or more and not caught between Jan. 1 and March 31. Lunker Legacy are bass of 13-plus pounds caught between Jan. 1 – March 31 and accepted into the hatchery production program.

Only the 13-pound bass can be donated to the hatchery program. The fish caught in the other categories do not donate their fish to the program. Weight and length are verified by two pictures, one with the bass lying on a rigid measuring board. The other is a picture of the fish on a digital scale with weight showing on the screen. Along with the photos, the angler completes an online entry. The new program has digital applications for smartphones available for free downloads with the entry form and rules included. The bass is released alive back into the water body where it was caught.

Ninety-six bass weighing 10 to 12.99 pounds have been entered, and 315 fish weighing 8 to 9.99 pounds have been certified. Five bass weighing 13-plus pound, caught between Jan. 1 and March 31, have been entered.

ShareLunker now open for entries all year, showed that some nice bass can be caught during the warmer months. A 14-pound bass was taken from Lake Tawakoni in May. July saw an 11.90-pound bass come from Lake Palestine, and 12.85 trophy bass catch from Marine Creek. August produced a 12-pound-plus bass from Ray Hubbard.

So far 80 different water bodies have yielded ShareLunker bass. Lake Fork leads this year with 64 fish. Anglers have entered 36 8-pound-plus fish from Lake Conroe. Lake Athens ranks third with 28 entries.

Anglers whose entries are accepted are rewarded with a “catch kit” that includes a decal recognizing the category of the angler’s catch and a selection of fishing-related gear, plus a chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree at Bass Pro Shops. Information you provide for each approved Lunker entry helps TPWD better manage our fisheries.