The Toyota ShareLunker Program’s 40th season officially kicked off on January 1; this is another significant milestone for Texas ‘ long-awaited and storied largemouth bass selective breeding and filling system.
Anglers from all over the state and the nation have been fishing on Texas rivers since 1986 in an effort to land a Legacy Class largemouth bass that weighs 13 pounds or more.
Anglers who reel in a Legacy Class largemouth bass have the option of loaning it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ( TPWD ) for captive spawning at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens during the first three months of each Toyota ShareLunker season ( Jan. 1 through March 31 ). The state will then rear its offspring and restock them in public lake, ensuring that Texas fish ‘ future generations will continue to grow bigger, better bass.
The millions of saltwater anglers who fish on the state’s lakes and rivers each year are integrally benefited by the Toyota ShareLunker Program’s efforts to establish and maintain high-quality bass fish. A 13-pound largemouth bass would be a fantastic way to start the new year by pulling a mast, hitting the water, and hauling in a pole. Some fish strive to experience the cast of the line, the trap landing just correctly on the water, and a hit from a potential fish of a lifetime.
The Toyota ShareLunker Program has worked with anglers for 40 years to grow bigger, better guitar, and make Texas a top fish place, according to Natalie Goldstrohm, program coordinator. Every fish from the Legacy Class that TPWD shares helps promote nationwide bass fishing efforts for selective breeding and filling. This historic winter is a celebration of the participating fish, TPWD Inland Fisheries Division people, our partners and sponsors, and the coordinated efforts to conserve fish that make these extraordinary catches possible.
In 2025, the Toyota ShareLunker Program had a fantastic period. Features included:
- Legacy Class Lunkers, made up of O. H. Ivie, Richland-Chambers, Lady Bird, and J. Toledo Bend, Tawakoni, Sam Rayburn, and B. Thomas are just a few examples. The number of common lakes with the highest number of Legacy Class ShareLunker entries increased to 79 in Lake Tawakoni in total due to a Legacy Class Lunker capture.
- With six Legacy Class comments, Lake O. H. Ivie in West Texas was once more at the top of the class this year.
- With his 14.05-pound bass caught at Lady Bird Lake on February 5, angler Willie Pipkin set a fresh river history.
- Brady Stanford, Ross Gomez, Terry Scott, and Mechelda Criswell were the only fishermen who caught their next Legacy Class Lunker.
- For the first time in the system, Angler Ross Gomez caught the exact Legacy Class Lunker twice in two years.
- On March 22, Lakes Tyler and Sam Rayburn made a double-lunker moment.
Anglers who report their catch to the ShareLunker hotline at (903 ) 681-0550 through March 31, 2026 can call the hotline at (903 ) 681-0550.
Anglers who catch and borrowing a 13-plus-pound lunker earn Legacy Group status, get a catch kit containing items donated by program sponsors, a vehicle or boat with a 13-pound plus identity logo, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy, ShareLunker branded apparel provided by AFTCO, and Bass University will provide a swag pack and monthly subscription. Additionally, entries are made for the year-end Grand Prize Drawing and the Legacy Class Drawing, which are independent entries. The winner will receive a$ 5, 000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree in the middle of the drawing.
Anglers can participate in three more levels of membership through the year-round Toyota ShareLunker Program for bass over eight lbs or 24 inches in Texas open waters. These rates help TPWD fishing biologists continue to produce bigger, better guitar in Texas by supplying crucial data at each level.
Anglers who enter information for a lunker greater than eight pounds or 24 inches will also be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for the year-end Grand Prize Drawing to win a$ 5, 000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree. The Bass Pro Shops Lunker Group ( 8 lb. ) is included in ShareLunker access classes. + ), 10 lb. Strike King Elite Class. + ) and Lew’s Legend Class ( 13 lb. + ).
Fish must enter the get information on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app, which is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, or at Texas Sharelunker.com.
Anglers have the option of sending a DNA range sample from their lunker guitar to TPWD experts for genomic analysis in addition to providing basic get information. There is a limit of one clip per fishing while supplies next for anglers who submit a sample to the program. A three-month license to Bass University will also be provided to fishermen who send in a biological sample. On the Toyota ShareLunker site, instructions for submitting Genome samples are available.
The AFTCO Guide of the Year award for the 2026 ShareLunker period is once again being presented by TPWD and the Toyota ShareLunker Program. A fishing guide who makes a significant contribution to the protection and development of largemouth bass in Texas is honored with the AFTCO Guide of the Year award.
The nice title sponsorship of Toyota makes the Toyota ShareLunker Program possible. Toyota has long supported the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and TPWD, providing significant revenue for a range of fish, state parks, and biodiversity projects.
Legend Class type reward partner Lew’s, Elite Class Prize partner Strike King, Lunker Class Prize partner Bass Pro Shops, AFTCO, Bass Forecast, Bass University, and Lake Fork Taxidermy also provide essential system support.
Visit facebook .com/sharelunkerprogram/, Instagram.com/TexasShareLunker/, or Texas Sharelunker.com for updates on the Toyota ShareLunker Program.
