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Young angler Trace Jansen set a new waterbody record for Lake Travis with this 15.32lbs ShareLunker in 2021. The season is open to all fishers and assists Texas Parks and Wildlife researchers. Contributed/TPWD
The month of January begins a new year and with it the beginning of the 36th season of the Toyota ShareLunker program when anglers across the state, and for that matter the nation, cast their lines and fish for Largemouth Bass in Texas’ world class fisheries.
What better way to jump start the new year than to grab a pole and hit the water in search of a 13-pound plus Largemouth Bass. Nothing beats the feel of the line being cast, seeing the lure land on the water, and the anticipation of a strike from a possible fish of a lifetime.
“We are excited to kick off another ShareLunker season,” said Toyota ShareLunker Program Coordinator Kyle Brookshear. “The Sharelunker program contributes to the selective spawning and stocking of these world-class offspring and also helps us gather vital catch and genetic data to help our fisheries biologists better manage trophy bass populations throughout the great fisheries of Texas.”
During the first three months of the season (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers who reel in a 13+ pound bass can loan it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program. These anglers can call the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 to report their catch 24/7 until April 1.
Anglers who catch and donate one of these 13+ lunkers earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise, a 13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event and a high-quality replica mount of their Lunker fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy.
The year-round Toyota ShareLunker program offers four levels of participation for catching bass over eight pounds or 24 inches in Texas. The 2022 season offers an opportunity to join the special club of premier anglers who have submitted a Legacy class ShareLunker.
Anglers who enter data for any lunker they catch greater than 8 pounds or 24 inches during the calendar year 2022 also receive a catch kit, a decal for their vehicle or boat and an entry into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and annual fishing license. ShareLunker entry classes include the Lunker Class (8lb+), Elite Class (10lb+), and Legend Class (13lb+).
Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app or on the Toyota ShareLunker online app at TexasSharelunker.com. In addition to providing basic catch information, anglers can also provide a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD researchers for genetic analysis.
