Arlow, great post. There are bigger largemouth bass in the northeast than people realize. The fish in the picture I saw had a much fatter gut than your picture. I am sure it will come out over time.
You can go bass fishing, and even fish in a bass tournament, but if you want to catch a trophy bass you must change strategies. There is bass fishing and trophy bass fishing and the two sports are as divergent as girls bad mitton is to division one football.