Let the lunkers go: New science explains why big fish matter so much

40-inch-plus pike are among the rock stars of the fishing worldWhat do 30-inch walleye, 40-inch northern pike and 50-inch muskies have in common? They’re all rock stars of the fishing world. The same goes for 20-pound-plus lakers and four-pound-plus smallmouth bass and brook trout. These magnificent fish also share something else in common—they’re all big, old, fat, fertile, female fish, or BOFFFFs as they’re better known in the scientific community. Without them, we wouldn’t have the exceptional fishing and extraordinary fisheries we enjoy across Canada.

Of course, the opposite is also true. Just look closely at most of the country’s stressed fisheries and it quickly becomes clear they lack these bigger, older mature fish. BOFFFFs are so important that Bruce Tufts, who supervises the prestigious Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Lab at Queen’s University, had T-shirts made for his students with the slogan “Big Fish Matter” emblazoned on the sleeves.

So, why exactly do big fish matter? From a sportfishing perspective, they certainly matter because, well, most anglers simply want to catch trophy fish. But from a biological standpoint, big fish matter for far more important reasons. And it’s those very reasons anglers need to understand and embrace in order to ensure the ongoing health of our fisheries.