Photos of the biggest largemouth bass in Texas

Each year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department holds the "Toyota ShareLunker Program," a contest that encourages anglers to lend their 13-pound-plus largemouth bass for the purpose of breeding healthy and large fish at a hatchery. Entries for the 31st season are accepted Oct. 1, 2016, through April 30, 2017. less Each year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department holds the "Toyota ShareLunker Program," a contest that encourages anglers to lend their 13-pound-plus largemouth bass for the purpose of breeding healthy and ... more Photo: © Photo Courtesy Debbie Baker Photo: © Photo Courtesy Debbie Baker Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Photos of the biggest largemouth bass in Texas 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's "Toyota ShareLunker Program" is entering its 31st season. Each year, the TPWD asks anglers from all over Texas to donate their most impressive largemouth bass for spawning purposes.

For 30 years, the TPWD has used the donated fish to hatch bigger and healthier generations of fish. For this reason, the contest only accepts bass larger than 13 pounds.

The contest works on a "catch and hold" system. In order to participate, an angler must call the TPWD with their name and where the fish is located after being caught. Within 12 hours, a representative will contact the angler and take a look at the fish wherever it is being held, be it a weighing or holding station.

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"As a competitive angler and fishing advocate, I am thrilled to be part of the ShareLunker program," Kyle Brookshear, the Toyota ShareLunker Program Coordinator, said in a prepared statement. "We want to continue to reward our anglers for not only catching a trophy largemouth bass but also for helping us manage our fisheries to enhance trophy bass fishing in Texas."

Click here for more information on the program's rules and how to enter. Entries for the 31st season are accepted Oct. 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017.

Click through above to see some of the biggest donated fish in previous contests.