A fisherman who may have caught the biggest largemouth bass ever has decided not to apply for the International Game Fish Association record books.

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John MacArthur Weakley said there was too much controversy surrounding his catch Monday in Dixon Lake, Calif.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the catch violated state law against foul-hooking -- a process in which fishermen prey on spawning females by roughing the waters so the fish get hooked by accident.

Erik Elliott of the Department of Fish and Game said it's illegal if the fish gets snagged by the hook instead of intentionally biting it. He also said Weakley didn't release the fish soon enough.

Weakley -- along with Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson -- took pictures of the catch before releasing it, but they didn't take official measurements or weight, another problem gaming fans and experts take issue with.

Jason Schratweiser, conservation director for the IGFA, said the trio did right by releasing the bass.

He said if the catch had been approved, it would have surpassed the 74-year-old record of a 22 pound, four ounce catch by George W. Perry in Georgia's Montgomery Lake.