Hey, DZ
 

Now will you admit that there might be some truth in Bassdozer's Ghost School theory?

I can already hear the harumphing...

:rotflmao:

ok I will bite, what is russ's ghost school theory?

Here's the link:

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/surf_ghost_fish.shtml

They are big, fast-swimming and streamlined. In fact, the snouts and heads on the truly big members of this family get super, super pointy and they always reminded me of mean-looking alligators in that respect. No doubt, this head shape can be an advantage for swimming long distances more easily.

54" long
36" girth

I don't think any difference is going to make a striper a pelagic species

"Most people believe there is a separate Hudson stock, separate Delaware and Chesapeake stock...and a few say there's an old stock of fish that still persist in rivers of the southern Carolinas, wrapping round to Florida's Gulf Coast"

Ya think Russ?Just a few say that?The Saluda,Congaree and Roanoke rivers to name the three biggest producing stripers.And until Santee/Cooper lakes region was impounded the Santee River probably produced the most spawning bass of all.

"However, the larger the fish get, the less able they are to withstand freezing or harshly cold winter water in these "local" freshet".

Tell that to the huge spawning population in several Nova Scotia rivers.

My hypothesis:

The recent spate of super large fish is the last remnants of the 1982 year class of fish. For those of you who don't know, 1982 was an unusually large year class of fish given the state of striped bass at the time. Since 1982 there have been numerous year classes of fish much bigger than the 1982 class. This class of fish was preserved partially by the 36" size limit at the time in order to produce breeder sized fish in good quantities and supposedly save the species. The jumbo fish (50-70#) being taken right now are likely 25+ year old fish. The spike in these super size fish is most likely just a reflection of what was born 25 years ago.

Hey, BW - I was just trying to see if I could get DZ to rise to the bait, it's an old inside joke between us on the Ghost School stuff.

I guess I just can't troll him up like that anymore - he's getting pretty crafty himself in his old age :hihi:

Hi D :wave:

I know Chuck.

With that particular story having made so many rounds,I just find that Russ's style to be so hokey

Hi Norm :wave:

Well, I've gotta agree that Hemingway he ain't...however, as soon as I can clear the decks a little around here I'm gonna post an old photo that may throw some gasoline on the fire :smokin: