Age Of A Keeper Bass?

[Riverwhy]

I wonder what life expectancy stats look like for largemouths assuming they are not caught and fried.

[mojorig]

Average age of the oldest fish that we typically see in our age and growth samples is around 10 -13 years. That doesn't mean that there isn't older fish in the population. I have seen a couple of 17 year old fish from a lake in SE Arkansas that basically had little harvest. The lake had a 16-21 inch slot. Those 17 year old fish were males in the slot.

[Feathers and Fins]

Jeremy, What would you like to see be the prime fish to keep size wise for fisheries management and health of the population when it comes to bass? I don’t like bass but I know some might be wanting a meal and it would be nice to hear from you what would be the best to keep for the resource.

[Quillback]

Average age of the oldest fish that we typically see in our age and growth samples is around 10 -13 years. That doesn't mean that there isn't older fish in the population. I have seen a couple of 17 year old fish from a lake in SE Arkansas that basically had little harvest. The lake had a 16-21 inch slot. Those 17 year old fish were males in the slot.

Some long lived bass...

[mojorig]

Feathers and Fins,

This is merely my opinion but I feel the prime spawning size largemouth bass is around 3-5 pounds (some 16-20 inches). That is typically the size of largemouth bass that our hatchery system spawns out. Those are important for the continuation of the population. O course, as anglers, we like the big ones. My suggestion is keeping ones that are barely over the length limit.

[Feathers and Fins]

Wouldn't it be a smart idea then to put a slot on the ( no keeper size ) say 15 to 20 inches ( C&R tournaments exempt ) and only 1 fish may be over 20'' be a better option than just a 12'' or 15'' minimum size?

It would protect the valuable breeders while allowing people to harvest smaller fish and still the opportunity for a trophy, though to me with mount tech the way it is now I see no reason to keep a trophy anymore.

[Quillback]

I like a slot limit also, takes 6 - 7 years for a spotted bass to get to 15", seems a shame to kill them. Plenty of 12" spots out there and they are much tastier than the bigger bass.

Tournament guys probably don't like the slot limit idea, but it seems you could make an exception for tournament weigh ins as long as the fish were released alive. But then again, I can see enforcement issues with that.

[Feathers and Fins]

States can and do wave the slot for C&R Tourneys. just like the Toyota big bass on Lake Fork the allowed one over the slot to be brought in. I DO NOT see an issue with it if the state will waiver it and just give the tourney guys a card to show wardens if stopped to keep the potential non-tourney guys from trying it during the tourney times.

[mojorig]

Excellent question.

Here is one criteria used when selecting whether to use a slot or minimum length limit. I got this info from the Tennessee Largemouth Bass Management plan. We have similar language in the AGFC Black Bass management plan. The below information was develop by Novinger 1984. This is used by most states in some form. We also use the data we collected from Age and Growth studies to determine the size limits (minimum or slot) using fisheries data software used by many states.

Minimum Length Limits Slot Limit

1. Low recruitment 1. High recruitment

2. Moderate to fast growth 2. Moderate to slow growth

3. Low natural mortality 3. High natural mortality on young (age 0-2) bass

4. Moderate to high fishing mortality 4. Moderate to high fishing mortality

[Feathers and Fins]

That reminds me a lot of AHM for waterfowl. If im reading it right A lake with high recruitment, moderate growth, low mortality would be a candidate for a slot program.

Where a lake with fast growth and low recruitment would be a size limit lake. Id that correct?

And if so how do you manage to determine what type of creel is needed for each species with say spots, lmb and smb all in the same lake? Is each species separated to AHM Strata or are they lumped together?