I checked the fecundity studies I've posted for people before, googled "Atlantic striped bass and fertility" "Chesapeake Bay striped bass size and fertility" and a few other variations. There's tons of data out there, but you have to sift through countless scientific studies in PDF format talking about striped bass sperm proteins, sperm retarding agents, egg development, desired enzymes VS the harmful enzymes, pollution and algae effects on egg reproduction, all written by scientists and PHD candidates. About as exciting as watching 2 elephants have sex.
I did find lots of data going back to the 1920's in PDF format, so it's out there.
What people who do reseach and bring the resulting data back to internet sites as "proof" need to realize, is that in many cases modern research is more accurate.
Bottom line:
1.It may not be possible to get modern 2009 fecundity data. I think for fecundity and egg viability it's more acceptable to find and use data that was done in the 1980's when Willie remembers these studies being done.
3. I'm lucky enough to know several good sources around the same age as Willie, and they have confirmed what he said above:
a.
Study found bass between 28-38" produced the most and healthest eggs.
b.
Very few males grow beyond 36" and die off a natural death.
c.
A "Hard Slot" can work- A slot of 24-30" makes a lot of sense.
6.
Ideal slot size - would be the one that allows the
most active year classes of bass to spawn. It would not target these breeders which are the most sexually prolific. This is why fecundity and fertility studies are important.
7.
The biggest bass have the most eggs - Yes, but are they the most prolific breeders? I recently changed my views on this because I was willing to change my opinion as I learned new things. In my research, I found papers that talked about how sometimes a female will not dump all of her eggs in one season. She could only dump 1/3 this year, and 2/3 the next while still making more in the process.
That's why guys will sometimes catch female bass with seemingly full egg sacs after the spawn, and assume they haven't spawned yet.
This is part of the reason why exact scientific numbers are so hard to generate and have faith in, both for fecundity studies and fisheries management.