RE: Very simple
Here some answers:
1. Many of the big calicos are females. Big females lay exponentially more eggs than small females. Therefore, they are crucial to growth of calico bass population. Calicos are slow growing. Therefore the number of large females will come from the 16in. or larger fish released, not killed.
2. Larger fish may have just been lucky, or they may be more adaptive and thus smarter. In any case, genetically larger fish that breed with larger males produce offspring that will grow larger on the average. In Alaska, hatcheries try to to produce super salmon through natural spawning of eggs from huge females and milt from huge males. What I mean by "natural" is no genetic altering like what produces the Alpers frankenfish trout.
3. The larger calicos and sandies are tougher and less tasty, and definitely contain more PCBs, DDT and other petro-chemical pollutants.
4. Calicos and sand bass are rec only fish. If we are to have a trophy bass fishery again, the sole responsibility for that is our hands. Can't blame the commercials for this one, except that the gill nets did major damage to large bass before Prop 132 pushed them 3 miles out. But commercials are no longer a factor. It's on us.
5. Petro-chemical pollution and destruction of kelp and wetlands is playing a major role in diminishing stocks, and perhaps size. Because that is a given and the the petro-chemical industry is pushing and financiallly supporting MPAs as a diversion from its role in destroying the nearshore environment, it is even more important to release the bigger fish.
6. We are sportsmen and women, no? We are not subsistence fishers. So act like one and catch, photograph and release. I do confess to keeping a couple of UNDER 16in. calicos from time to time because they are delicious.
Fish the Tides - Freddie