In Reply to: full text posted by on September 26, 2011 at 17:34:47:

This is interesting and appears to be quite well done and definitely worth reading. I didn't realize that kelp (calico) bass had large breeding aggregations. I have seen "schools" of them but nothing compared to what one sees for sand bass and didn't realize those were likely breeding aggregations. The numbers are quite impressive as are the long term trends. The authors do mention other factor are also in play and I suspect in the last few years, the colder water seems to have been an added negative effect.

A couple of years ago, there was an organization that was trying to get folks to only take 13-19 inch (or some such size range) calico to preserve the large breeding stock. I don't know if they still exist but it is something I whole heartedly supported. I will only take calico in the 13-16 inch size range and then only one a trip as The Admiral likes it very fresh.