Actually, it wasn't a generalization, I was repeating specifically what a person very familiar with the Toledo Bend Lunker program said, in conjunction with the data from the Texas Share a Lunker program, and was based on the facts they have observed from their research into the subject. I'm not saying that there aren't some that continue to thrive after being caught at that age/size, I'm just saying that in TWO of the largest programs of that type in the country, they haven't seen any that did. I agree with you though, that "old age" probably has more to do with it than "size."
I don't believe generalizations like that. The operative part is "old" not "big". Plenty of evidence that big fish keep growing until old age or lack of food intervenes. I have seen 4 yr old 10 lb LMB that kept their size or grew for many years after being caught. In addition many of the Share Lunker 10+ lb LMB (all well over 10 lbs) kept growing and reproducing after being caught.
