Instead of calling someone a "tree hugger" or pulling the local card, I would like to offer a different perspective. First off, the regulations are set, and no laws were broke. Not to mention between the two anglers they are missing six more Yellowtail to even reach their limit, so why share your negative outlook? (another awesome P.M. opportunity).
I look at La Jolla as "my little stock-pond", just like my family ranch ponds in east and west Texas, that are stuffed with Florida hybrid Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue catfish, and Bluegill Perch (the food for the big guys). In our ponds we had quite a few bass over 12 lbs (largest 14 lbs) and catfish over 30 lbs. Occasionaly we would keep the smaller catfish for an afternoon fish fry, but I kinda knew all the giant bass by name. They had their favorite spots for different times of the day (just like Yellowtail), and destroyed multiple different topwater plugs like it was their job (pretty cool). I took great care of these fish (pets), and loved to catch smaller snakes and crickets, then bring a friend over to watch as I let them go by the stump section in the afternoon. We would watch with anticipation, and try to predict just how far that wiggly creature would make it, them BOOM (freaking awesome). As a kid I had snakes as pets also (Pythons and King Snakes), so please no negative comments from snake lovers, and trust me we had plenty of snakes on the property (just like Yellowtail in La Jolla). Today I C and R more than 90% of my catch, but enjoy the harvest as well. I take great pride in seeing a "healthy" fish swim off, and selfishly feel it boosts my fishing karma. I protect the local homeguard Yellowtail, just like my pets in the stock pond, thus the comparison. In some years it's challenging to tell the locals from the transient pelagics. In others such as this year it's real easy, as the squid crop was strong all year, and even the younger homeguards are stupid-fat and healthy. I know some anglers that think only the giant Yellowtail are locals, but we have a very strong crop of Yellowtail that have no plans on leaving, all sizes. A big part of my decision with each Yellowtail is trying to figure out whether this fish is simply passing through, or an established trophy to be (I want my 50 lb+). I know, this may sound trivial to someone who doesn't have an opportunity to fish this great place as often as I do, so take "my opinion" with a grain of salt. "I think" harvesting the transients helps the local crop, by lowering the strain on the deminishing food supply of summer months. I feel it helps insure the strength of "my stock fish" to provide plenty of action during the supposedly slower winter months. I also feel it's a good idea to keep "your harvest practices" to yourself, kinda like political debates, and forcing religion on someone (not well received). The best way to get your point across is to lead by example, and maybe you will end up doing a greater deed, than just giving someone else an opportunity to pull on that fish too.
NO
HERE, JUST THINKING OUTLOUD.