striped bass age versus egg viability

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Mike, that was dead nutz right on!

I think what you CAN say is that it is KNOWN the big cow has solid genes. The smaller fish's genetic disposition is unknown. We KNOW a cow has the potential to be a cow given that, well, she survived to get to be a large fish. The smaller fish, MAY, I STRESS MAY, be inferior. It MAY also be a true giant waiting to grow. It's just an unknown.

[Pete_G]

Of course I can't find them now, but I've read several articles that were pushing the idea that we are changing the biology (making the adult size smaller due to un-natural selection) of some groundfish that have been agressively fished over the years.

So, the concept of eliminating the biggest breeding fish resulting in smaller adult sized fish isn't foreign by any means.

Also, BassBabe's info is interesting. Her post is implying that a 50# fish's eggs aren't any less viable then a 30# fish, just that her reproductive potential is lower. This by itself contradicts "common knowledge" of striper reproductive nature. While we're questioning things, what is a natural end to a stripers growth? Just because 60's aren't common does that mean they're old? Or are they just uncommon because of all the fishing pressure?

This is good, some real info. I think there is a LOT of misinformation and misconception out there. We should have real facts about the resource so we can be happy with the call to keep a fish or send it back when we're fortunate enough to have a large fish at our feet.

I don't like the idea of some groups making us feel guilty for taking a large fish if there is no reason too, nor that others push the idea that taking them all won't effect the resource. Reality would be good and probably it's a combo of the two.

[Clogston29]

There are so many factors that I think it would be almost impossible to figure out. You'd really need to know the egg production for bass in each size range; the probablility of that fish surviving and reproducing for one, two, three, etc. more years; the release mortality for fish in each size range (I would assume that it is greater for larger fish but I have no way to know). When it comes down to it, keeping any fish has an adverse effect on the population. Catch and release even has an adverse effect on the population. However, if it wasn't for recreation fisherman stripers and many other species may have already been wiped out so recreational fishing is both good and bad for the target species. I don't think that anybody needs to feel guilty about taking a fish here and there, reguardless of size, because most of the factors that I've listed above probably balance out as long as there is no waste. I don't agree with encouraging people to keep more than they may need, however, and that's where the OTW Cup went astray IMO. Its difficult, if not impossible, to have a conservation minded tournament for a fish that cannot be kept in a livewell for later release.