Big bait doesnt always = big fish an 8 inch pencil can get sucked down by a 26inch bass. Even if it doesnt get it all the way in the gullet, it just takes 1 hook to rip out a gill.
when it was 36" eveyone had thier rod marked with tape .. then 34" ... wasn't 30" in there... now 28" ...Not sure,,, its gotta go back .. I don't consider feeding crabs a waste ... Stripers eat crabs ..