Silver,

We are probably thinking the same things but writing them diferently. My main point was that populations are not static. When they 'count' fish, they don't and can't count them all.

WE need to keep a close eye on such 'studies' as their political intent is often unclear until just before they try to change our regulations based on them. By the time it gets to that point, the acuracy of the data collection and the other 'factors' that we can easily see effecting the numbers can be lost in the political retoric to 'do something'.

There is a movement out there to eliminate catch and release completely. It's happened in some areas overseas already. It's the first logical step in getting us to stop fishing entirely. What many of us saw as a ethical way to help manage the resource is being turned against us. Doing studies that bring the practice into question always make me nervous.

Buddy