HSB Mortality revisited - 03/18/08 02:47 PM
Since I was one of the early “pioneers” stocking HSB in Texas farm ponds, I feel a responsibility to monitor and report current results.
To date I continue to catch several ~2 - ~5lb HSB on each trip, so it is safe to assume they have survived 3 years of low water, nutrient rich drought periods, and likely 4+ years of age.
Hopefully the 5 lb HSB that I caught in main 2-acre pond November 2006, survived and should be 7lbs if it survived stress of catch and release. I doubt that it was the only five pounder in the pond.
The ~4 – 5lb HSBs caught last fall and late winter should attain a growth of 6lbs or better this year if they survived the “presumed “ 5 year life span.
100, 6 – 8 inch HSB were grown out to 2 – 3 lbs in 2 years in unaerated, low water, hot weather ¼ acre pond, and 50 transferred to main pond, leaving others in small pond to control CNBG spawns.
How many were left in the “grow out” pond and how many mortalities is unknown,
Our program is based on creating an annual stocking “ladder” to continue catching 3 – 5 lb HSB each year.
If the HSB grow larger and live longer than presently documented, my goal has been exceeded.
If the all die at 5 years, so be it.
I’ll have another class of 5 year old fish each year.
Who would not be happy catching a 3 –5 lb fish on a regular basis, with a fighting heart so strong it will fight to it’s death unless properly resuscitated?
I will report further results as spring fishing continues and before hot summer weather begins.
Based on my goals for put and take philosophy, I will be ‘happy for the rest of my life to be able to catch 3 – 5 lb premium sport fish such as HSB.
http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...ite_id=1#import
November 2006
December 2007
To date I continue to catch several ~2 - ~5lb HSB on each trip, so it is safe to assume they have survived 3 years of low water, nutrient rich drought periods, and likely 4+ years of age.
Hopefully the 5 lb HSB that I caught in main 2-acre pond November 2006, survived and should be 7lbs if it survived stress of catch and release. I doubt that it was the only five pounder in the pond.
The ~4 – 5lb HSBs caught last fall and late winter should attain a growth of 6lbs or better this year if they survived the “presumed “ 5 year life span.
100, 6 – 8 inch HSB were grown out to 2 – 3 lbs in 2 years in unaerated, low water, hot weather ¼ acre pond, and 50 transferred to main pond, leaving others in small pond to control CNBG spawns.
How many were left in the “grow out” pond and how many mortalities is unknown,
Our program is based on creating an annual stocking “ladder” to continue catching 3 – 5 lb HSB each year.
If the HSB grow larger and live longer than presently documented, my goal has been exceeded.
If the all die at 5 years, so be it.
I’ll have another class of 5 year old fish each year.
Who would not be happy catching a 3 –5 lb fish on a regular basis, with a fighting heart so strong it will fight to it’s death unless properly resuscitated?
I will report further results as spring fishing continues and before hot summer weather begins.
Based on my goals for put and take philosophy, I will be ‘happy for the rest of my life to be able to catch 3 – 5 lb premium sport fish such as HSB.
http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...ite_id=1#import
November 2006
December 2007