Mortality Large vs. Small??

[ivanputski]

I always wondered how long a fish lives, and how many reproductive cycles it has left in it once it hits 50 pounds... do they all just keep growing and living to become 75 pound fish? what is the life expectancy of a bass? heres a thought to ponder:

Imagine you caught 2 fish tonight, both are females...one 28 inch, one is a 50 pounder. you HAVE to keep only one, and release the other with specific intentions of the betterment of the species... which one would you release? Which fish would go one to reproduce more?
Does the samller fish better the species by reproducing for more years, or does the 50 have "50 pounder" genetics?

Interested in your thoughts ...

[JohnnySaxatilis]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

Imagine you caught 2 fish tonight, both are females...one 28 inch, one is a 50 pounder. you HAVE to keep only one, and release the other with specific intentions of the betterment of the species... which one would you release? Which fish would go one to reproduce more?

The 50 deffinately, becuase it carries about a gagillion more eggs than a 28" female, there fore there's a ton of more potential for new fish.

That's the catch 22 (no pun intended) with keeping a 50, its much better for the species if you let her go, but if you didnt have a camera or noone else with you, would you let your fish of a lifetime go, or haul that fat be-ach back to the car, take it to the tackle shop and show it off?

luckily i only catch schoolies....