Perhaps it was an exaggeration, but the shaming and mistreating someone legally keeping a big fish, especially trout, is apparent in the tailwaters forums. I don't eat fish other than crappie and bluegills, but the holier than thou attitude prevails for some reason with trophy fish that are at the end of their life cycle.
You are right about fish in a barrel.
Stream fish must be protected beyond what they are now, but with the current regulations, odds of it are slim to none.