If Bob Lusk is interested, we can sure do an article for Pond Boss. I've got LOTS and LOTS of pictures (digital images). Bob??
Cecil -- very often, we can age younger fish without cracking otoliths (i.e., whole). It varies a lot by species, and at least somewhat by geographic location. Nothing is ever easy in this profession, I've discovered.
Darn otoliths are just like scales, only not as bad. There is still a learning curve, and I never say anything with certainty! Some fish are easy, but some are still difficult, and may be better aged with a different structure.
