HBG Recruitment Culling Needs to begin...I think? - 06/10/19 02:20 PM
I'm looking for the forums to back me up on this culling plan for my HBG pond...
Some details -
My 500 HBG were stocked last spring (2018) and are doing very well (largest to date is 1/2 pound). The 40 HSB that were stocked to help control recruitment are also doing very well (largest to date has a mouth gape of 1-1/4").
My clover leaf trap has collected some of last years recruitment that are larger than the mouth gapes of my HSB (measured at the widest width - anal fin to dorsal).
My pond still has ample FHM schools which the HSB seem to prefer and it also has a strong population of crawdads. I consider the pond to be very fertile (maybe a bit too fertile).
My plan - to remove all HBG caught in the trap that exceed the mouth gape of the HSB (maybe even remove some that are close but still on the smaller side).
Can anybody add or take away from my thoughts? Anything else to consider?
The goal is to grow some big HBG, ladder stock the HSB and remove a few HSB a year for table fare. I'm not sure what I will do as the HBG tap out from age, but for right now...I don't think I need any recruitment that gets bigger than the HSB will eat.
Some details -
My 500 HBG were stocked last spring (2018) and are doing very well (largest to date is 1/2 pound). The 40 HSB that were stocked to help control recruitment are also doing very well (largest to date has a mouth gape of 1-1/4").
My clover leaf trap has collected some of last years recruitment that are larger than the mouth gapes of my HSB (measured at the widest width - anal fin to dorsal).
My pond still has ample FHM schools which the HSB seem to prefer and it also has a strong population of crawdads. I consider the pond to be very fertile (maybe a bit too fertile).
My plan - to remove all HBG caught in the trap that exceed the mouth gape of the HSB (maybe even remove some that are close but still on the smaller side).
Can anybody add or take away from my thoughts? Anything else to consider?
The goal is to grow some big HBG, ladder stock the HSB and remove a few HSB a year for table fare. I'm not sure what I will do as the HBG tap out from age, but for right now...I don't think I need any recruitment that gets bigger than the HSB will eat.