Yes the 17" and bigger are not really easy to come by. 16" are a lot more around than the larger ones.
congrats to your wife!
I'm up that way come the 20th for a week, then back down to the coast fishing for trout, reds and flounder. Hopefully, the wind slows down some and I can hit a few 'oldies, but goodie spots' from way back when - they seemed to always produce. Just need to get that way and drop a spot(s) of my own for the future.