Quote Originally Posted by Duayne View Post
He wasn't protecting the same eggs. One of the things the males have to guard against is other bass. If you took the male, the bed was unprotected and the nest was raided. Even after a good hatch, and right before the male leaved the fry, they will usually take a big gulp out of the fry so there aren't as many. Bass are all about survival, passing on their genes and making sure to limit their own future competition.
A fishery Biologist couldn't have said it better.