I found the mola mola thread very interesting. After viewing that video on the Sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout face book page I scrolled down the various postings there. Found some of the new findings presented there were very interesting.
For decades we all knew about the differences in river entry and the corresponding time in the salt between the north and south sound fish however the emerging information presented indicates that there are some very basic and at least to me interesting life history differences between the two groups of sea-run cutthroat.
It appears that the many of the fish found in South Sound are faster growing but shorter lived than those found to the north. It is tempting to speculate that both the increased growth rates and mortality rates are linked to the increased time in the salt. Hopefully as more information is developed additional insights into these differences and the population trades between the two will become clearer.
It is also equally interesting that in both the sound and north sound a true 20 inch fish is a pretty rare critter.
The adaptability and diversity of our wild anadromous salmonid resources never cease to amaze me.
Curt
For decades we all knew about the differences in river entry and the corresponding time in the salt between the north and south sound fish however the emerging information presented indicates that there are some very basic and at least to me interesting life history differences between the two groups of sea-run cutthroat.
It appears that the many of the fish found in South Sound are faster growing but shorter lived than those found to the north. It is tempting to speculate that both the increased growth rates and mortality rates are linked to the increased time in the salt. Hopefully as more information is developed additional insights into these differences and the population trades between the two will become clearer.
It is also equally interesting that in both the sound and north sound a true 20 inch fish is a pretty rare critter.
The adaptability and diversity of our wild anadromous salmonid resources never cease to amaze me.
Curt