As the average size of Florida's bass continues to increase annually, will it be much longer before someone, somewhere, establishes a new state record?

"Actually," says Eric Johnson, "it may have already happened."

Johnson, a biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), explains that a few recent but unconfirmed catches of fish weighing 17 and 18 pounds have been reported.

So, why hasn't Billy O'Berry's trophy weighing 17.27 pounds been replaced on the FWC's Record Fish Program roster?

"Might be do to several factors," mused Johnson.

"Some anglers simply may not have thought about a record after landing their big 'un, while others may not have known what the state record is.

"Others may have bested a qualifying fish in a catch-and-release only lake. Or," he adds, "a few may be confused by thinking the official record is the unverified 20.13-pounder caught by Frederick Friebel in a Pasco County lake in 1923."

O'Berry caught his official lunker in an unnamed Polk County lake in July 1986.

"Just so everyone knows," Johnson emphasized, "the current certified Florida record for largemouth bass stands at 17.27 pounds."

Considering that several Sunshine State bass weighing between 15 and 18 pounds are thought to have been bagged in the past couple of years, perhaps O'Berry's mark might be surpassed as early as tomorrow. Or, at least, in the foreseeable future.

Florida's FWC currently lists certified records for 28 species of freshwater fish, and it's interesting to note that four slots (skipjack herring, common carp, yellow bullhead and black bullhead) remain open.  Even though substantial minimum qualifying weights must be met in order to make the register, it is surprising these slots have yet to be filled..

Ed Moyer, director of FWC's Freshwater Fisheries Division, emphasized that any fish being entered for state record recognition must have been caught legally on hook and line, identified by a Commission biologist, and weighed on a certified scale.

Fisherfolks who'd like to take a shot at an official state record, here's what you need to beat:

Largemouth bass: 17.27 pounds.

Redeye bass: 7.83 pounds.

Spotted bass: 3.75 pounds.

Suwannee bass: 3.89 pounds.

Striped bass: 42.25 pounds.

Butterfly peacock bass: 9.08 pounds.

Oscar: 2.34 pounds.

White bass: 4.69 pounds.

Sunshine bass: 16.31 pounds.

Black crappie (speckled perch): 3.83 pounds.

Flier: 1.24 pounds.

Bluegill: 2.95 pounds.

Redbreast sunfish: 2.08 pounds.

Redear sunfish (shellcracker): 4.86 pounds.

Spotted sunfish (stumpknocker): 0.83 ounces.

Warmouth: 2.44 pounds.

Chain pickerel: 5.75 pounds.

Redfin pickerel: 1.06 pounds.

Channel catfish: 44.50 pounds.

Flathead catfish: 48.40 pounds.

White catfish: 18.88 pounds.

Blue catfish: 61.50 pounds.

Brown bullhead: 5.72 pounds.

Bowfin (mudfish): 19.00 pounds.

American shad; 5.19 pounds.

Longnose gar: 41.00 pounds.

Alligator gar: 123.00 pounds.

Florida gar: 9.44 pounds.

Wide open are slots for the following four species and the minimum qualifying weight considered:

Skipjack herring (2.5 pounds), common carp (35 pounds), yellow bullhead (2 pounds), and black bullhead (2 pounds).

Those wanting complete information on the various species of fish listed can go to FloridaFisheries.com/record.html for details on the Record Fish Program, or for slightly smaller but memorable-sized fish check out the eAngler.com sponsored Big Catch Angler Recognition Program..