Boy this talk is bringing back all kinds of memories. I trace my "bass history" back to about 1953 when I was lad of 10yrs. Dad began running a charter out of Rock Harbor in Orleans and the mid-50's when I started mating on the boat were "squid city". During those years the peak always seemed to be around July 4th when we would await the "blitz". I can remember days with monster bass all over the surface hammering reverse atoms. Not only that but you could look for long distances in CC bay and see the surface white with fish. No measuring fish in those days... a small bass was anything under 25lbs.
I fish hard these days but I know I'll never see such numbers of large fish again... It's all different..available food, pressure,pollution.
Unfortunately we didn't appreciate what we had..it was the norm..sold way too many breeders.