I agree calm water for the most part is better eeling conditions but rough water is definant window of opperetunity for even 'bigger' bass. Whats the difference between big and bigger?.....IMO, 30# give or take a pound is common for a good night in the surf. If you can honestly say a good night fishing is fish between 35# and 40# on a regular basis then your fishing some place special and there are very few anglers like you. But from my experience shore caught fish are in the low 30# class for the most part.... I know there are conditions and times of year that prove otherwise.
My best shore bass are caught in rough water conditions but that doesn't mean I'm getting beat up #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&
. There are areas where I can land big bass in deep water and I'm not in it. I can think of other areas where I'm in it and its still perfectly safe. Although you may have great calm water eeling that doesn't necessarily mean its prime rough water terrian.
The same is true for boat fishing. A while back I spoke with Gary Corrseti and he reassured me 'the rougher the water the bigger the bass' and he's proven it many times. Kenny has also proven that to me without a doubt, it doesn't take sceinctic evidence. My best bass days whether boat/shore, eeling, live-lining or what ever, have been in rough conditions.