I say that removing the slot caused the big fish to disappear. During the slot I could catch 20 or 30 keepers a night every night. And break off a min of once a night on a serious fish.
The LDWF dropped the slot in the middle of the pre spawn.. I scout for tourney's sometimes during the week and would see 20 to 30 boats a night taking what they could and then some.
People griped and said that the river held no more fish but these same people didn't realize the fish were still there, they had to change techniques IE deeper water and not beat the bank like they had in the past. I fished pro ams, Kiwana's, Valero tournaments and all I ever heard was people complaining because they had to release fish...I think more than the LDWF surveys, the pressure from the "corn mealers" eventually won out and now we have a much tougher place to fish with much less big ones and no more brood stock to generate the baby's needed to replenish the corn mealers devestation.
Don't get me wrong I keep a few to eat every now and then but the devastation I saw was a bit much.. People loading Freezers I mean come on...
Sorry for rambling but it really torqued me to see the LDWF take what took 4 to 5 years to grow and torch it in one stupid move... You think they would have learned after they smoked all the grass.