15 Trout Limit Discussion PUBLIC

[Salty]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

It is hard to say. Smaller windows of time and more quantifiable levels of effort make it easier to interpret the significance of the top ten trout, especially if the top ten trout weights are also available from other years in the same month with comparable windows of time and levels of effort.

The meaning of the top ten fish ever in a state are much harder to interpret, because they are likely spread over a period of 50 years or more, and it is unlikely to have more than one or two measurements from the same year.

State records are outliers, far out on the tail of the "normal distribution." They also depend on a combination of optimal conditions to produce the fish and an angler being at the right place at the right time to catch it.

If you compare estuary to estuary, Big Lake can not hold a light to Baffin Bay for big trout. By big, I mean trout 9 lbs plus. All the studies in the world won't dispute that.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by Salty

If you compare estuary to estuary, Big Lake can not hold a light to Baffin Bay for big trout. By big, I mean trout 9 lbs plus. All the studies in the world won't dispute that.

Of course, but the food chain dynamics are much different in Baffin Bay due to a combination of factors. Baffin Bay is a hypersaline estuary which creates a genetic predisposition towards larger fish because the relative osmoregulation energy expenses are lower for fish with a smaller surface area relative to their weight.

Species diversity is much lower in Baffin Bay than Calcasieu, and consequently spotted seatrout are much more inclined to cannibalism. The limit of ten between 15" and 25" is not letting the fish become overpopulated, because the larger fish are big enough to control the population of the smaller fish because the dinks become a primary food source for those trophy trout. In Baffin Bay, protecting the food source for the trophy trout is protecting the dinks. In Calcasieu, protecting the food source is protecting the shrimp and gulf menhaden.

[Salty]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

Of course, but the food chain dynamics are much different in Baffin Bay due to a combination of factors. Baffin Bay is a hypersaline estuary which creates a genetic predisposition towards larger fish because the relative osmoregulation energy expenses are lower for fish with a smaller surface area relative to their weight.

Species diversity is much lower in Baffin Bay than Calcasieu, and consequently spotted seatrout are much more inclined to cannibalism. The limit of five between 15" and 25" is not letting the fish become overpopulated, because the larger fish are big enough to control the population of the smaller fish because the dinks become a primary food source for those trophy trout. In Baffin Bay, protecting the food source for the trophy trout is protecting the dinks. In Calcasieu, protecting the food source is protecting the shrimp and gulf menhaden.

Hey, something that actually makes "cents" to me. I'll buy that.

[jeffreyv05]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

Of course, but the food chain dynamics are much different in Baffin Bay due to a combination of factors. Baffin Bay is a hypersaline estuary which creates a genetic predisposition towards larger fish because the relative osmoregulation energy expenses are lower for fish with a smaller surface area relative to their weight.

Species diversity is much lower in Baffin Bay than Calcasieu, and consequently spotted seatrout are much more inclined to cannibalism. The limit of five between 15" and 25" is not letting the fish become overpopulated, because the larger fish are big enough to control the population of the smaller fish because the dinks become a primary food source for those trophy trout. In Baffin Bay, protecting the food source for the trophy trout is protecting the dinks. In Calcasieu, protecting the food source is protecting the shrimp and gulf menhaden.

The limit is 10 fish per day in Baffin Bay, the 5 fish limit doesn't come into play until further south in the lower laguna madre (south of the landcut). However I can say that I have witnessed, and have heard many accounts of, the catching of a small trout in Baffin that is eaten by a large trout while reeling in. Its a fairly common occurrence.