Cool write up Tyler!
Senor Jose techniques are being ethernalized!
On turning in WSB heads - Hubbs / Seaworld Research Institute has been releasing hatchery raised WSB for years. Great program with some amazing results. They tag all the fish they release, and recovering those tags provides a ton of cool info for the scientists.
http://www.hswri.org/research/resear...m.cfm?reaID=27
http://www.projectpacific.org/whiteseabass.html
On stones, I was going to say google "wsb stones"... ...but then I realized that this page comes up on the top...
The stones are otholits, or ear-stones... They are made out of calcium. Fisherman often collect them as the a trophy catch souvenir. I believe all fish have otholits, and their size varies from one species to another. Croakers seem to have big ones. The bigger the croaker, the bigger the stones. Ear stones are internal organ that help fish keep the balance.
The stones are frequently used by scientist in aging study. Although the Hobbs / Seaworld Research folks will never advertise they'd like to have the stones from your turned in WSB head knowing fishermen keep it as trophy, they would love the opportunity to examine them. By looking at the calcium layers in otholits they can determine the exact age of the fish. Tim was telling me that last year one of the spearos turned in WSB head of 72 pounder. Based on otholits layers, they determined the fish was just 20 and some years old, which was contrary to what they used to believe. They were estimating that size fish would be more like 30 years old. They keep learning about WSB, and we can help by turning their heads in - hopefully so they could find the tag... Or by analyzing the stones, if you're willing to let them have it.
Again, they will never ask, no worries that they will try to keep the stones unless you let them.
Please do turn your heads in whenever you can. They need our help.
Personally, I have not been keeping the stones last few years. I will keep 'em only if I ever end up catching WSB bigger than the Mother of all Lamb.
