Striped bass spawning success depends on the weather

[zimmy]

Completely supports the statement that big fish should be turned back. If the percentage is very low, you NEED more eggs. Without big breeders the numbers will be far worse. I'll use some simple math to explain best I can(obviously not real #'s).

Lets say that 1 out of every 1000 larval s-bass are recruited into the population. If a large striper produces 10000 eggs to the small basses 1000, you will get 10 larval fish recruited for each big bass and 1 for each small bass.

Without the enormous production of the big bass, the population can't sustain itself through the years with poor recruitment conditions.

[Johnny]

Nice info but I was surprised to see in the end you asking what this does to the Big breeder/smaller breeder theory almost as though they were in direct conflict? Seemed to me the article points out how important it is to have good breeders of all sizes to help over come any/all reproduction challenges and variables. The membership reply covered it well.