Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Tilapia Bonanza

I started an experiment with Tilapia this past spring by adding them to my ponds. I was after their forage and their "cleaning" properties, but did not expect the catch bonanza I experienced this past weekend.

I have tried with very limited success all summer to catch the Tilapia to see how they were doing. The only way I could catch one was by "bonefishing" shallow water...but as the die-off temperatures have approached, my efforts have been more urgent because I wanted to use as many of the fish as possible before they die. Well, I believe I have found the technique for catching the Tilapia.

As the water temperature falls, they will move into very shallow water which is warmed by the afternoon sun. It is there you can catch them without interference from the bluegill. I threw out some fish food in the shallows, waited a couple of minutes and then cast a worm into the 18 inch water. I then caught Tilapia on almost every cast until the worms ran out. I caught well over 30 Tilapia many of which were 1 to 2 pounds with one monster that broke my line. These are tremendous fighters on light tackle. If I had the worms, I have no idea how many I could have caught, but I will find out next weekend.

This is a good news and possibly bad news story. The good news, of course, is that the Tilapia have done their job as well as furnished a resource for harvesting. The bad news may be that there are so many of them, the die-off will cause a significant problem. I remember Bob Lusk warning about this and I may well see it happen. First, I'm going to get more worms...a lot more worms...and get some help to catch all of these that I can before the next cold front.

As an aside, these fish are tremendous fighters on light tackle. Great sport. They are also excellent table fare, but somewhat difficult to clean. They do not fillet easily.

What a fish! My thanks go to Todd Overton who provided these wonderful fish to me...and as the temperatures drop further, we will see the rest of the story. Thanks.

I have to get me some now. I wanted them last spring but missed the boat. How many do you stock? How big do you guess the first generation to be in one season?

Congratulations! I didn't fare so well, but I will try your method next weekend. What do you mean by bonefishing?

Ed,

By "bonefishing" I meant stalking them and casting a small fly to them just like bonefishing, i.e. sight fishing.

Brian,

I initially stocked 20 pounds on April 1 of this year spread among three ponds. All the ponds now have numerous Tilapia in them now. I caught over 30 pounds worth from one pond alone...a pond that has artificial feeders on it. Considering that the initial stocking was probably only about 5 to 7 pounds of fish, the return is tremendous.

As I mentioned, I am really concerned now about a massive fish kill when the water temperature falls to the magic 50 degree mark. I have absolutely no idea how many of these fish I have in these ponds, but the indications are that the 30 pounds I took out didn't even scratch the surface.

I'll post more on this after the next weekend and will, especially if there is any interest here, post a summary of what happens when we hit 50 degrees.

Its too early to call this a success, but I'm completely thrilled with how it has turned out so far. These are just great fighting fish on light tackle and they clean up your pond like a janitor.

Where do you get them and when do I need to order to get me some!?

Shawn,

I got mine from Todd Overton, Overton Fisheries. http://www.overtonfisheries.com

A word of caution however....this may turn out to be a good news/bad news joke....depending on what happens when they all die at the same time from low temperatures.

If I get a massive fish kill, it may be bad news. I have no idea whether I have a few or have thousands of these critters. Indications are that there are a whole lot of them present. I should know within another month or so.

Meadowlark, how big are your ponds? My fish guy said he sells them by the pound aand they run about 1/4 lb each. Were yours that big or were they smaller?
When they die, let us know how many of what sizes you find.

BrainH,

My ponds are 3.5 acres, 2 acres(new, no Tilapia stocked this year), 1/2 acre, and 1/4 acre. Only the 3.5 acre pond is set up with artificial fish feeding....and it has some whopper Tilapia.

The stockers were 4 to 6 inches on April 1 of this year. Many are now 2 pounds and one at least is more than that(in the 3.5 acre pond)

The 1/2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds are very old...over 50 years old. They now look "clean" after a season with the Tilapia.

I noticed the weather forcast for our area this weekend is for lows in the low 40s and highs in the low 60s. Should be great for afternoon Tilapia catching...and getting closer to that 50 degree water temperature.

Brian, Bobs Fishing Hole out by Eagle Mountain Lake raises tilapia and furnishes them to area eateries. I expect you could get some small ones from him next year. He may be the closest supplier to you in Hico. Bob has a bunch of catfish ponds that he stocks and charges people to fish. You buy your catch by the pound. He also keeps fatheads, bluegills, redears, channel cats, etc. I occasionally go by and pick up a pound of fatheads. They really don't last long but neither do crankbaits.

i would like to urge all of my fellow pond boss comrades to become very , very conservation minded, and back to the basics of outdoorsmanship. PLEASE conserve, the very most important long term impact for our planet and our beloved fisheries is to do our best to not pollute. Be aware of your gasoline usage, your house thermostats, and do not purchase things unless absolutely necessary. The good life is nature, fishing, hunting, and the family and friend we share it with!

How about an update on your tilapia Meadowlark? What has been happening, has your water temp dipped low enough yet? Have you caught many more? TIA!

A nother way to catch tons of tilapia is throwing a casting net out in about 5-8 foot of water. I caught about 40 fish in 10 minutes. They taste great fried.

mcdonald,
Where are you located?
No pond info on your profile.

I'm also anxiously awaiting for Meadowlark's tilapia update - especially with todays weathercast....!

George Glazener
N.E. Texas - 2 acre pond - 1/4 acre pond

I live about 30 miles north of Gulfport Mississippi in Wiggins and I am interested in talapia and I wondered if you had other fish in your one pond where you caught so many? It seems to me that they grow very fast. What makes them so difficult to clean?

deaner,

I have LMB, HSB, grass carp, coppernose BG, threadfin shad, FH minnows, and recently stocked gizzard shad in my largest pond which was also where I caught lots of the Tilapia....one time only.

They are very difficult to fillet(Mozambique). The bones seem to be harder than normal fish...or fish I have experienced. You need a very strong knife and very sharp. I decided to just clean them like BG, cook them whole in the pan. They are great eating. I sound like a Tilapia salesman, but really I have no interest in them other than making a better pond environment...and they do accomplish that.

my ponds in east Texas when should it get cold enofe to kill the tilapia. I still need to take some more out before I have a die off.