Older Fish Reproduction

[crappie_jiggin]

I have something that was a little baffling to me on the fish I caught from Tenkiller the other day. She was 18" long and 2 1/2 lbs., but had very little in the way of eggs in her. So my question is do fish not reproduce as much when they are older fish? The egg sack wasn't bloody like she was ready or had been dropping eggs yet. Had this fish been full like one would think then I figured she would have gone closer to 3 lbs. Just long and skinny. Here's the pic of it again.

[callmecamo]

I would be curious as to the actual age of the fish. Did you notice any parasites in the fillets? Obvious injuries?

[crappie_jiggin]

No perfectly healthy looking fish.

[Crappie Reaper]

She might have been re-absorbing the eggs. They'll do that if conditions change when they're ready to lay.

[Redge]

I wonder if she was old? Did you save the otoliths?

[cricket george]

That fish was too long for its weight It should have been closer to 16.5" for 2.5#s

[crappie_jiggin]

Thinking maybe she was on her last leg of life maybe. Long and skinny and hardly any eggs in her. Her egg sack was more that of a 10" fish very small. Now the eggs were bright yellow with no blood yet, just like the other fish I had cleaned.

CR not sure she was absorbing them. I have seen fish that do that and from those the eggs turn more of a grayish tint when doing so and very mushy. These eggs were very firm.

[Crappie Reaper]

I have to disagree George. My daughters fish was only 17.25" and it weighed 2/10. If they were firm, she was still aways out. There could have been some sort of issue with her or something might have happened to her that damaged her reproductive system. None the less, still a very nice fish!

[cricket george]

CR- I respect that answer.