I think we are just looking at this from 2 different perspectives as I am not really disagreeing with what you have posted.
I think you are looking at more non-std size fish and I am considering std for the species.
I'm going to use SMB as an example: Micropterus dolomieu (Northern strain usually known as Dale Hollow strain) & Micropterus dolomieu velox (Neosho strain and a strictly river dweller).
AFS recognizes SMB as M. Dolomieu and the Alpha and Beta of STD RW is used for this species. The Neosho has no RW chart-yet-and there is yet a 3rd species that is not officially recognized yet but I think will be in the next 2-3 years.
The DNA testing has shown some radical variations amongst all 3 when crossed-just like Northern and FL LMB.
My view is if someone has a Northern strain SMB chart and uses it to calculate a neosho, or a cross of those, the numbers come out pretty ugly the bigger the fish is. This is happening with SMB fish farms that don't know where their brood stock is in that chain, I am finding it more and more each year.
My thoughts are that it's more likely to have F1 LMB at some point, or even possibly an F2 that exhibits more FL traits, and therefore, by the chart, shows numbers that are not accurate for the species, such as 180 RW for a fish of X length. I'm not sure if we could even calculate those numbers with proper DNA tests and probably why that number or chart has not been introduced.
It's not a cart before the horse deal, it has to be a peer agreed fact that the STD is objective where sub-species and other factors can screw that number in or out, especially when we don't know the genetics ratio.
Maybe I'm cutting hairs but for the 4 years I've spent DNA testing all of my brooder SMB, there's no more SMB showing up at 85-90 RW but look just fine.
I can 99% of the time, identify the fish by just color now at a much younger age.
I know that doesn't apply here and has no relevance but we have a Moderator on this forum that has experienced both sides of that genetic mix on SMB and has a clear story as to what I'm talking about.
