Somewhere in Texas — as you’re reading this — a fish is swimming around that’s worth at least $6,500 to whoever catches it.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation will pay $500 per pound to the lucky angler who catches the 500th Toyota ShareLunker. A ShareLunker is a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass legally caught from Texas public or private waters between Oct. 1 and April 30.

A recent flurry of ShareLunker catches has brought the number to 490 — meaning there’s a good chance that the 500th will be caught in the next month since bass are beginning to head to shallow water to spawn.

Large females, heavy with eggs, are easier to catch during the spawn because they’re more visible and because they bite for more than just feeding. They also attack to protect and defend their nests from marauding fish, as well as any lures that might be bouncing or rattling through the neighborhood.

Only one ShareLunker bass has been caught from Lake Waco so far — a 13.87-pounder caught by Ricky Culverhouse in 2009 — but experts say there are more lurking, thanks to the lake’s 7-foot pool rise in 2003, as well as an aggressive stocking program by Texas Parks & Wildlife biologists.

Of course, Vegas oddsmakers would put their money on Fork, Falcon, Amistad or any of the other big-name Texas bass lakes. But a lot of fish in the program come from lesser-known lakes. For example, number 490 was caught by Jesse Garza Perez of Laredo, who reeled in a 14.79-pounder from none other than Lake Casa Blanca.

TPWD says ShareLunkers have now come from 60 public lakes and more than a dozen private ones, with more added every year, prompting ShareLunker program manager David Campbell to predict that the 500th, as well as the new state record, could come from any lake in Texas.

If you find yourself on the other end of the line from a 13-plus pound bass, call Campbell at (903) 681-0550. It might be worth your while.

South 40 Shootout back

The second annual South 40 Shootout, a bass tournament benefiting the Heart O’ Texas Fair Complex Scholarship Fund makes its return to Lake Waco on Saturday, with launch and headquarters at the Twin Bridges boat ramp.

Entry is $150 per two-person team with a $25 big bass option, and there’s a $5,000 guaranteed payout to the winners. Participants must attend a meeting Friday evening at 6 p.m., and check-in time on Saturday is 5 a.m.

Weigh-in will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum. Only 100 teams will be allowed to compete, and at press time, there were 25 slots left open.

For more information, visit www.south40shootout.com.

Fishing team claims 1st

The Heart of Texas Bass Assassins claimed first place in the BASS State Top Six Tournament last weekend on Lake Belton.

The club weighed 32 bass totaling 70.66 pounds over the three-day competition. Jason Windham eared top individual honors with a total of 26.17. He will advance to the Texas Divisional Trail in May and is also in the running to qualify for the BASS Classic in 2011.

Good fishing at Navarro

Navarro Mills Lake is yielding good catches of bass, crappie and catfish, with the week’s highlights being Earleen Brister’s 2.14-pound papermouth caught at the marina and Wayne Cook’s pair of yellow cats weighing 20 and 29 pounds.

Marina owner Brenda Wallen said that Cook, who holds the lake record for blue cats, caught his fish on hooks baited with past-its-prime beef stew.

10-year-old has limit catch

Hayden Kramolis’ first striper trip might have just been the best one of his life.

Russell Kramolis and his son Hayden, age 10, took a trip last week with Lake Whitney striper guide Clay Yadon (817-219-3707) that resulted in a limit featuring a 20-pounder and others weighing 11 pounds and up.

“It’s incredibly good. I haven’t seen fishing like this since the ’80s,” Yadon said. “We’re catching limits with fish in the midteens, and we had at least one each day that weighed in the 20s.” Friday’s haul included a 24- and 25-pounder.

A photo of the youngster with his 20-pounder can be found at the Centex Outdoors Web site.