Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Being Lazy-Tilapia stocking

A pond owner in SC is going to pull the trigger on tilapia. I finally get to stock some since I can not do this in GA. I know this info is here on POndBoss somewhere but could not find direct answer.

Quickly if someone could help me out the pondowner wants to know today my stocking rates for tilapia. So what size and numbers of pounds for 32 acre lake with goal of quality/trophy bass. Also currently well balanced with 100% Wr and good population and size structure distribution for bluegill. We are also stocking threadfin shad this spring. Thanks in advance guys.

I went with 5lbs per acre last year.......great results ....fat happy bass..........but depending on the the size of bass I'd up it to 10lbs per acre and large Talapia to avoid the expensive snack....depending how much structure/underwater plants for them to hide in until they mature to breed or outsize the bass.

Greg, I've always heard 10 lbs. per acre from tilapia marketers. However, some who have stocked them tell me that 5 lbs. per acre seems to work out OK. But, like LakeL says, and I'm sure you know, it all depends on size and whether they will escape predation. In your business, I'd probably go with 10 lbs per acre of larger size.