15 Trout Limit Discussion PUBLIC

[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.