BLUE TILAPIA/SAN ANTONIO RIVER

Comment

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 16, 2013 at 12:02pm

Id sure like to catch some. Id have to put them in a tank and raise them, though. Gets too cold here for them, to survive in the wild.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on September 16, 2013 at 10:38am

Mike has the pleasure in taking on a very fun species. Quite a few fisher folks here use straight lines without any leader. However, dealing with this species, like cats and gar, the teeth on the tilapia species is not to chuckle about. I use a 4lbs test braid, but combined with a minimum of 6lbs test leader (about 2ft long), just do deal with the rocky bottoms, and the toothy robbers. For some reason, they like to bite the line just above the hook eyes before they start to nibble/bite fully onto the full hook. When I use dual hooks on the leader during hot bite days, I have to use 10lbs test leader to sustain the leader from from breaking within the 2 hours. They are smart and vicious. Don't allow them any room to steal your bait. The worm segment shouldn't even be more than 1in long. Only protrude about 1/8in of the worm segment past the bend of the shank.

The fun is the hookset period, as the hook is debarbed. When they're startled, they will give you a fight that will make you smile, and anticipating whether or not they will escape through brutal and ingenious escape methods.

Comment by mike martinez on September 16, 2013 at 9:57am

Hey Leo and Patricia,i would have to agree with you Leo they are definetly smart at taking your bait.I was using #6 cricket hooks under a float and as they started to play with the bait,i would just start reeling em in and i would hook them.I caught alot of them where the current ended and spread out among some rocks Patrcia.Awesome fish to catch......

Comment by Leo Nguyen on September 16, 2013 at 8:05am

Tilapia are aggressive fighter and biters, and very, and I do mean very, smart when it comes to bait robbing. My years of chasing the, the most effective way is to play with them, using either an octopus, circle, and become one of my favorite now is the sickle hook. Of course, debarbed. This offer the fish the chase to escape if it's a worth and intelligent opponent before landing. At times, you have to hookset even with circle hooks because they will not take the full bait on the hook. Smart little devils.

Comment by Patricia Ramirez on September 15, 2013 at 7:40pm

I do scratch tilapia from my list recently, but I have One question, did you hook it in the current?

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 15, 2013 at 6:31pm

Really nice. Ive heard the same about them being hook and bait shy. Is the water there clean enough to consider eating them?

Comment by mike martinez on September 15, 2013 at 5:40pm

Thanks everyone,these blue tilapia are an absolute joy to catch.I had such a good time a return trip is in order.Was using 6 pound line and the action was awesome,some were a pound and a 1/2 to 2 pounds..........:)

Comment by Leo Nguyen on September 15, 2013 at 9:06am

Excellent haul! They can put up a fight, and break ultra light rods. Mine was a victim to them.

Comment by dick tabbert on September 15, 2013 at 5:56am

Way da go

Comment by Jeff Soto on September 14, 2013 at 11:17pm

Mike, aren't they fun to catch!  They are really strong, especially on light rods. Nice fish dude!

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