I've read (somewhere) that yes, the larger bass have more eggs, but as they age the eggs are not as fertile. Wish I could put my finger on it.

After about 3 years, at the juvenile stage, the females begin to migrate to the ocean where they mature. The males tend to remain in the estuary longer than the females. After 5 to 7 years, females return to spawn for the first time. It takes several years for spawning females to reach full productivity.

[ **** An average 6 year old female produces half a million eggs while a 15 year old can produce three million. ]

Older fish produce eggs with more lipid energy (larger lipid globules), which in turn gives their larvae a survival advantage when food is scarce.
Older fish have exponentially more eggs per pound of body mass. That means a 40 lb fish carries tens of times more eggs than a 10 lb fish. Killing a single 40 lb fish has the same spawning effect as killing tens of 10 lb fish.
Older fish spawn earlier in the season than smaller fish, which broadens the likelihood of the species total spawning success (some years larvae survival conditions are better early, some years late.....therefore the chances of a good year class are better when spawning is spread out)

Here is another link that has some very pertinent (although not species specific) information on the value of large spawning fish (about 1/2 way thru the article). http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/HsO/PDF/...0Fisheries.pdf

Plan for the future, guys. Eat the 28" fish, brag about the big ones you let go, but killing a big one just to "prove" you caught it and build your reputation as a stud fisherman is shortsighted and selfish in this day and age.........even if once upon a time it was the sign of a fisherman worth admiring.

Thank you for enlightening me George -

When a keeper was 36" and I used to go to fish meetings.. ,They told us the female Striped Bass does not spawn until about 30". It was explained to me the reason the size limit was 36",,, they would be assured the fish had spawned at least once .. Is this true .. and if so why are we taking pre spawn 28" fish . Doesn't make sense ..

what numbskull said

Best idea yet....carry a camera w/ you & take a picture of it if you need to brag (of course you need to get a memory stick bigger than the 16 shot one that comes with the camera George, just in case you have a big night or more likely still, I have a big night and need someone to take my picture(s))

That solves everything you get to release the fish to fight another day and you get proof of your prowess!

"I like it, simple and easy to follow" Jack Sparrow

I think that Flaptail addressed most of the points that we should be concerned with. The only thing that yet needs to be addressed is the pre-spawn slaughter of COWS staging to enter the rivers off of Virginia, which has been growing exponentially the past few years and the Spring fishing in the major spawning rivers while the females are bedding. Until these things are made illegal or brought under strict control, the Large Bass will remain scarce in the East Coast migrations. They are simply culling too high of a percentage of LARGE from the otherwise"healthy" population.