Monster bass of 2012

We're halfway through the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series season; it's time to check out the biggest bass weighed in so far.

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<p> Matt Herren shows off his best fish on Day One of the St. Johns River Showdown, the opening event of the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series.</p>
Matt Herren shows off his best fish on Day One of the St. Johns River Showdown, the opening event of the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series.
<p> The Elites' first crack at St. Johns produced a number of lunkers, but none were larger than Greg Hackney's 10-pound, 9-ounce super-kicker.</p>
The Elites’ first crack at St. Johns produced a number of lunkers, but none were larger than Greg Hackney’s 10-pound, 9-ounce super-kicker.
<p> Hackney's big fish wowed the crowd, put him in second place and earned the Carhartt Big Bass of the event. The 10-9 stands as the largest fish through four events.</p>
Hackney’s big fish wowed the crowd, put him in second place and earned the Carhartt Big Bass of the event. The 10-9 stands as the largest fish through four events.
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J.Todd Tucker holds up his twin brutes — an 8-6 and 8-3 — that, with the rest of his bag, gave him a Day One lead of 24-0. 

Alton Jones shows the Berkley Heavyweight bag of 28-7 on Day Two that propeled him to the Showdown title.
Alton Jones shows the Berkley Heavyweight bag of 28-7 on Day Two that propeled him to the Showdown title.
Keith Combs caught a 9-9 in his Day Three stringer of 19-10 that helped him finish third. He had 22-11 on Day Four.
Keith Combs caught a 9-9 in his Day Three stringer of 19-10 that helped him finish third. He had 22-11 on Day Four.
Consistency among his 28-7 allowed sight-fishing guru Alton Jones to be the first 2012 Elite winner and punch an early ticket to the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
Consistency among his 28-7 allowed sight-fishing guru Alton Jones to be the first 2012 Elite winner and punch an early ticket to the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p> Ish Monroe needs some help to hold the top Berkley Heavyweight Award of the year so far, a 34-5 sack on Day One of the Power-Pole Slam on Lake Okeechobee.</p>
Ish Monroe needs some help to hold the top Berkley Heavyweight Award of the year so far, a 34-5 sack on Day One of the Power-Pole Slam on Lake Okeechobee.
Kevin VanDam shows off an 8-14 on Day Three that jumped him into the top 12 cut and ended up being the Okeechobee event's Carhartt Big Bass.
Kevin VanDam shows off an 8-14 on Day Three that jumped him into the top 12 cut and ended up being the Okeechobee event’s Carhartt Big Bass.
<p> Chris Lane put the scare into Monroe when he made the Slam close with his 31-3 sack on Day Three.</p>
Chris Lane put the scare into Monroe when he made the Slam close with his 31-3 sack on Day Three.
Monroe pulled away on Day Four with his second 30-plus bag of the event.
Monroe pulled away on Day Four with his second 30-plus bag of the event.
In the third Elite event, the TroKar Quest on Bulls Shoals Lake in Arkansas, Brandon Palaniuk found the money spot that produced two 20-plus pound sacks on the first two days.
In the third Elite event, the TroKar Quest on Bulls Shoals Lake in Arkansas, Brandon Palaniuk found the money spot that produced two 20-plus pound sacks on the first two days.
Britt Myers tried to make it close but finished a distant second.
Britt Myers tried to make it close but finished a distant second.
Zell Rowland shows off his 6-13, a home run he caught on Day Two that won the Carhartt Big Bass on Bull Shoals.
Zell Rowland shows off his 6-13, a home run he caught on Day Two that won the Carhartt Big Bass on Bull Shoals.
Despite hooking himself on this 5-15 and having to cut his second day short for an ER visit, Palaniuk rolled to victory behind his Berkeley Heavyweight bag of 24-4 that he caught in just several hours fishing.
Despite hooking himself on this 5-15 and having to cut his second day short for an ER visit, Palaniuk rolled to victory behind his Berkeley Heavyweight bag of 24-4 that he caught in just several hours fishing.
Britt Myers built a three-day lead in the Douglas Lake Challenge, including his Day One 24-1 that took the Berkley Heavyweight Award.
Britt Myers built a three-day lead in the Douglas Lake Challenge, including his Day One 24-1 that took the Berkley Heavyweight Award.
Byron Velvick caught the Carhartt Big Bass on Douglas, a 6-10 that earned a bonus check.
Byron Velvick caught the Carhartt Big Bass on Douglas, a 6-10 that earned a bonus check.
With his second bag near 23 pounds, Jeremy Starks had the fish to overtake Myers if he slipped.
With his second bag near 23 pounds, Jeremy Starks had the fish to overtake Myers if he slipped.
When Myers could only muster 14-7 on Day Four, Starks and his 22-5 took the event by two pounds.
When Myers could only muster 14-7 on Day Four, Starks and his 22-5 took the event by two pounds.
Randy Howell had the biggest bag on Day Four at 23-3, and on the strength of his fifth-place finish there climbed to the top of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Randy Howell had the biggest bag on Day Four at 23-3, and on the strength of his fifth-place finish there climbed to the top of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.