I am not a marine fisheries biologist nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn last night or week, but I think legal recreational fishing is nowhere near the number one reason of a factor when it comes to sound fisheries management. Trout are very prolific spawners, they live a relatively short lifespan. For all species of wildlife that I can think of, three things are the most important to their entire existence: Survival first and foremost, growth, and then reproduction. They have to survive to grow and grow to reproduce. Reproduction is the ultimate goal of all animals, this is what is considered 'success' = to get your genes into the next generation (offspring).
Trout do not all spawn at the same time, they can spawn multiple times, and they produce numerous eggs each time. I have no idea the numbers, but lets just say 10,000 eggs is the average clutch of an average female trout. Lets say 1 MILLION trout are harvested in Big Lake each year (nowhere near that high), that means that 100 successful trout can make up for this years trout harvest from recreation fishing. There is no such thing as 100% survival of fish eggs and then no such thing as 100% survival from fry to adult, but still the point is addressed. If there is no food or shelter for these young fish then you have a problem (no survival and therefore no growth or reproduction).
If we start talking long lived species such as red snapper that maybe 50 years old, then thats another story, but for species such as trout, I do not believe fishing puts a dent in the overall population. Sure it takes out some fish, but I doubt the numbers that are taken out are statistically significant to natural mortality. I would bet pelicans and dolphins take out more trout than the recreational angler
Managing for trophies is ridiculous IMO, usually the opposite effect is derived when trophy management is adopted
Here is a good quote:
Availability of suitable habitat for individuals of a population in a particular area is what determines its ultimate population size. Regardless of how fast a species can reproduce, there can be no more dandelions than there is dandelion habitat and no more zebras (trout) than there is zebra (trout) habitat in a particular area.
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