01-30-2014, 10:41 PM
[quote stan55] There will be no apex predator (bigger pike) to keep the smaller pike in check and soon they will out populate the forage base. Which results in stunting..[/quote]
No. That is incorrect. Stunting results when fish reach sexual maturity at a smaller than average size. Or, in other terms -- when growth rates become so slow that the fish can't grow to a normal size before they start spawning.
This has NOTHING to do with available forage. It has EVERYTHING to do with population densities. Once the bucket is full, it is full. Pike are going to keep reproducing and adding to that bucket, which means in order for them to fit their average size will have to continue to go down, and down, and down.
Just out of curiosity -- do you guys also think that we should protect those "big pike" (over 36") in Redmond? Why, or why not?
hook 'em and cook 'em!
[signature]
No. That is incorrect. Stunting results when fish reach sexual maturity at a smaller than average size. Or, in other terms -- when growth rates become so slow that the fish can't grow to a normal size before they start spawning.
This has NOTHING to do with available forage. It has EVERYTHING to do with population densities. Once the bucket is full, it is full. Pike are going to keep reproducing and adding to that bucket, which means in order for them to fit their average size will have to continue to go down, and down, and down.
Just out of curiosity -- do you guys also think that we should protect those "big pike" (over 36") in Redmond? Why, or why not?
hook 'em and cook 'em!
[signature]