From the 1920s through the late-1970s, Florida was "The Place" to connect with wall-hangers weighing anywhere from eight to 14 pounds.

Because of expeditious human encroachment and an angler habit of keeping trophy fish, coupled with increasing environmental and ecological woes, the average size of big bass caught statewide declined, even though the overall number of fish being caught may have remained relatively stable.

Probably nothing chronicles the recent decline, fall, and reoccurrence of sizeable fish more than the "On The Bass Beat" column which appears monthly in Florida Sportsman Magazine.

Although this column began in 1984, it wasn't until the August, 1987, issue that a "Tournament Results" section was inaugurated in which bass clubs, ranging from small to large, forwarded their monthly standings to the publication. About two-thirds of these monthly reports include a "Big Bass" category, in addition to who won first, second and third place, etc.

From August, 1987, through July, 1997 (10 years exactly), "On The Bass Beat" reported on an estimated 3,000 tournaments, of which 1,948 recorded "big bass" catches (See Figure).

During the last five months of 1987, the big bass average for 53 tournaments was 5.37 pounds. This median rose slightly the following year to 5.88 pounds in 140 events, followed by 5.85 pounds (186 tournaments) in 1989, and 5.42 pounds in 1990 for 194 episodes.

Several fisheries biologists, who also had been monitoring catches, became alarmed when, in 1991, the average size of big bass fell statewide. Bass Beat recorded a dip to 4.58 pounds in 188 tournaments that year.

Some significant management changes were adopted by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 1992 when the average fell to what is probably an all-time low of 3.99 pounds in 197 recorded competitions. The daily bass bag limit was then reduced from 10 fish per day down to five, and the minimum legal size in most areas of the state was upped from 12 to 14 inches.

Such additional measures such as slot limits, a stricture on the number of fish (one) that could be kept measuring more than 22 inches in length, plus a husky expansion in the number of anglers who routinely and moralistically release their catches, all combined to arrest the startling downhill slide.

Florida Sportsman figures indicated a tenuous increase to 4.66 pounds (168 events) in 1993, followed by a further boost in 1994 to 5.16 pounds for 174 recorded tournaments.

Another slight rise to 5.55 pounds (183 meets) was indicated in 1995.

A meaningful change occurred in 1996, when, in 233 events, the average size in the big bass grouping jumped to a decade-high 6.06 pounds.

Then, through July, 1997, the mean size bounded to 7.02 pounds in 232 tournaments, an incredible accession of more than 3 pounds per fish over the 1992 figure.

If more proof is needed that the FWC's 1992 decision to manage Florida's bass fishery for "quality instead of quantity" is paying off, we have only to look at the numbers of trophy-sized bass that were caught in just the first seven months of this year, compared to the entire 12-month period of 1992 (See Figure).

In '92, "On The Bass Beat" recorded but two fish weighing on the plus side of 10 pounds, plus one fish at nine pounds and change.

Through July of 1997, the monthly column had already registered 36 eight pounders, 28 nine pounders, 17 at over 10 pounds, four weighing 11 pounds, and, finally, five lunkers scaling more than 12 pounds. In other words, 90 trophies in seven months (1997), as opposed to a scant three over eight pounds and no 10 pounders in all of 1992!

Is this an improvement, or what?

As more management plans and procedures are implemented by the FWC through the year 2000, Florida anglers can again anticipate enjoying the best bass fishing the world has to offer.