The larger bass often eat larger food items which extrapolates to fewer items eaten each year if the food is adequate. In reality I think the amount of food eaten to gain weight is based more on pounds consumed rather than numbers. Often if they are eating higher numbers the amount of weight gain will not be as large when expending more energy capturing more items.
Many bass are doing well to gain a pound per year which equates to eating 8-10 lbs of food. Put in perspective for 4" BG there are 144-181 in 8 to 10 lbs. For 5" BG there 72 to 90 in 8 to 10 lbs.
