Theoreticly Speaking..

[-HAWK-]

Ok well after joining this site i have learned a ton of new information. But the thing that has struck me the most is the numbers of REALLY LARGE bass being caught in California. Now living in Florida where the Florida Strain of large mouth Bass Originated, one would think there would be large numbers of GIANT bass here as well. But from what i have seen on here and locally thats not the case. What is it about  LM Bass in California? Also Theoreticly what could be done here in Florida to create such large numbers of HUGE Bass?

[roadwarrior]

George posts a few:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1207740238/3#3

But you are right, we have very few members posting big bass in Florida.

:-/

[Guest muddy]

At least the Florida guys don't photoshop the backround

[jrhennecke]

Oh boy now you did it.  Here comes the planted trout brigade.  The real reason why bass get so big in California is because of the Sunshine and Love   ;D.

[-HAWK-]

Oh boy now you did it. Here comes the planted trout brigade. The real reason why bass get so big in California is because of the Sunshine and Love ;D.

Oh believe me we got plenty of both, ever been to South Beach.. ;D

[jrhennecke]

Oh boy now you did it. Here comes the planted trout brigade. The real reason why bass get so big in California is because of the Sunshine and Love ;D.

Oh believe me we got plenty of both, ever been to South Beach.. ;D

Not yet.  I may be in Daytona this fall.

[Albetico]

I've seen huge bass down here in Miami, but never anything like the monsters in California. I mean, the bass here usually top out at 11-12 pounds, but I've heard of larger in Cali. I'd say the bass just die younger here, genetics and overfishing more than anything. Could also be the lack of cold fronts, or truly cold fronts, in FL.

[WRB]

The FLMB transplanted to California occupy a different nitch in the deep cool reserviors than the NLMB in the same lakes. FLMB prefer larger baitfish then NLMB due to their native lakes and rivers having golden shiners as forage, for example. The NLMB prefers smaller baitfish and is genetically developed to prey on sunfish for example.

Lake Casitas, in California, is a good example; back in February of 1971, I caught a 12 lb 4 oz NLMB that was 27 1/2 inches long. In 1981, 10 years later, I caught a 18 lb 11 oz FLMB, same month, location and lure. The FLMB was 28 1/2 inches long, however had a girth of 28 inches, where the NLMB girth was only 20 1/2 inches.

Same lake with the same forage and the FLMB was nearly 50% heavier. Why? The answer is, IMO, that FLMB prefer the larger baitfish, in this lake that was planted rainbow trout that average about 1/2 lb. The NLMB in the same lake didn't feed on the planted trout, the FLMB did. The forage base was excellent for both NLMB and FLMB during there young adult growing period, however the FLMB adapted to the deeper water zone where the trout lived and continued to grow at a faster rate then the NLMB in the same lake. If Floridia stocks it's lakes and rivers with large bait fish like the golden shiner and smaller baitfish like threadfin shad, plus reduces fishing pressure by outlawing fishing with live bait, then Floridia could have giant FLMB like California.

WRB

[PWE]

Now I feel really lame - both my awesome 2 bass caught this year have been between 1/2lbs and 2lbs - where are they..... :-X

[tyrius.]

Mr. Lusk states in this thread

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1207594481/all

that

If a bass has limited competition and all the food they can eat, they grow exceptionally fast. If a bass spends much time at all without adequate food, their growth potential is limited. Essentially, that means if a bass doesn't grow as fast as possible its first three or four years, it doesn't stand a snowball's chance to reach its maximum potential. In my opinion, that's a big reason some of the best Florida strain bass top out at 13 or 14 pounds...because they sat at 10-14 inches for too long.

[Raul]

Theoreticly what could be done here in Florida to create such large numbers of HUGE Bass?

You could start by getting rid of gators and water turkeys.

[Mattlures]

From what I have read about FL it seems way too many big bass are kept. Out here in CA it is almost a crime to keep a large bass. The guys that know how to catch them always let them go. Ever 15lber that you have seen from CA was caught before when it was 1olbs and it was put back.

[Olebiker]

Mattlures:

You mean like this?

This young man did not catch these fish. He was holding them for the "gentleman" that did catch them.  It darned near broke my heart when that guy posted the picture on a local fishing site.

[-HAWK-]

A local private lake i fish has a few wacky fisherman that will keep every thing that bites there line. This Chinese guy was out fishing the other day, he caught a small panfish, turtle, 3 small bass, and a bunch of tadpoles. He kept everything, i asked him what his intentions were and he said "BIG DINNER PARTY"

[-HAWK-]

Theoreticly what could be done here in Florida to create such large numbers of HUGE Bass?

You could start by getting rid of gators and water turkeys.

Funny, probably be alot easier to just move to California.

[Tokyo Tony]

A local private lake i fish has a few wacky fisherman that will keep every thing that bites there line. This Chinese guy was out fishing the other day, he caught a small panfish, turtle, 3 small bass, and a bunch of tadpoles. He kept everything, i asked him what his intentions were and he said "BIG DINNER PARTY"

Haha, that's hilarious  ;D As long as he doesn't get lucky and catch a big bass, I could care less if he wants to eat turtles and tadpoles.

[Raul]

Theoreticly what could be done here in Florida to create such large numbers of HUGE Bass?

You could start by getting rid of gators and water turkeys.

Funny, probably be alot easier to just move to California.

Actually, what makes those big cali bass really big ?

Very little or no predators, human or animal.

In Florida the food source is there in the form of native fish but also of non native fish like exotic panfish ( tilapia, oscars ), exotic varieties of livebearers ( like guppies, mollies, swordfish, platies ) that have escaped from the fish hatcheries after the hurricanes that hit Florida every year.

So why don 't you see the big fish ?

Predators:

1.- People that don 't release the fish

2.- Alligators

3.- Water Turkeys

4.- Monster sized gar.

Sooner or later if it 's not one then it 's the other.

[-HAWK-]

Makes sense, all the lakes i fish have everything you just described. Especially water turkeys, and also pelicans.