Do you love big bluegill?

Tilapia1

These were a few fish I pulled out on Saturday while filling my feeder.

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Comment by paul sach on October 10, 2012 at 1:59pm: Yea, that's a problem with invasive species they reproduce so readily and take over from the natural habitat..some invasive fish are good sport fish.. I like to catch cichlids, usually same size as blue gills, Oscars are also fun fish ..some of these are aquarium fish ..same sub tropical waters they are born in so they easily survive and reproduce ....

Comment by Allen Morgan on October 10, 2012 at 1:59pm: Down in Texas, the Tilapia won't take bait, except maybe a piece of broccoli. Most folks snag or net them. According to TPWD, if you keep the fish, you have to eviscerate them before you can leave the lake, to keep them from spreading.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on October 10, 2012 at 1:42pm: Paul, that says the same for California/Arizona along the Colorado River, as well as the Salton Sea. You think Florida is bad, check up on the Salton Sea info.

2015 will be the designated marker when the lake is being cleaned up. 2020 to 2025 will be the mark of the new era for that lake as improvements through the Federal Superfund swing into full effects. I can't wait to wet my line there again and haul up 400+ tilapia to stock my freezers for a season's eating from one day of fishing.

Comment by paul sach on October 10, 2012 at 1:38pm: Tilapia r a good eating fish, not cheap either about $6 a pound ..I dont eat anything
Out of the waters of south Florida, I see the chemicals they use on lawns and crops that run right into
The waterways ...not heathy at all ... In Florida tilapia are considered an invasive speices, by law your not allowed to return them to the water ..they have to be killed ....

Comment by Leo Nguyen on October 10, 2012 at 1:30pm: Taste like chicken. LOL No no no..they taste pretty good fried, without any seasoning. With seasoning, they taste even better. Favorite food for the Asian and Hispanic population.

Comment by Jen Nayfly on October 10, 2012 at 1:14pm: they grow fast! how do they taste?

Comment by Leo Nguyen on October 10, 2012 at 12:38pm: Over here, the species of tilapia we have will eat anything that we toss at it, from cutbait, small live/dead fry on a hook, worms, sweet corns, hotdogs, to a piece of floating cork, powerbaits, or a fly of sometype. They are aggressive and opportunistic eater.

Comment by paul sach on October 10, 2012 at 12:32pm: Tilapia are a fun fish to catch, the ones in south Florida average 2-5 lbs they don't fight very long but they are a heavy gurthy fish ...they seem to like dark colored micro jigs, even trout nymphs attract them ....

Comment by Zach Pierce on October 10, 2012 at 12:17pm: Well they will die off this winter which is expected. They were put in for some added forage for the LMB and CC as they spawn like crazy. Plus they can help out with eating any algae that may come up.

They were stocked at multiple sizes from say 6" up to a few we had were probably 12-14". This could be one of them or possible a spawn from this year. They can easily go from fry to a pound in 6 months.

I may have already lost some to disease or being eaten as we had temps dip down into the upper 20's so not sure how that may have changed the water temps in these ponds since they are so low.

Comment by Greg McWilliams on October 10, 2012 at 7:50am: That is what I meant!!!! wonder how they will fair in an OKIE Winter???? How big were they when you stocked???