I caught this guy in a dip net while catching bream below the dam pipe in 3" of water. Evidently, a native to the creek that was dammed up. The state record is ~6lbs.
Are they aggressive eaters that will ruin my bass/bream population? Anything like a N. Pike?
Also in the same dip net there was a green leech! Sorry, no pic, but as leech is a leech and not very photogenic. Never seen nor realized these were in SC waters. Somebody please tell me they will be exterminated by the bream, bass , and catfish!?!?!?
- Dave 4.5 acre woodland pond constructed Feb 2011 - began fill Aug 25 - full pool Nov 18 - fish stocked Oct 25: 1200 Shellcracker; 3800 bluegill bream; 500 channel catfish May 2012: 500 LMB May 2012; 50 "permitted" sterile grass carp.
Kiko, CP are much like NP in the way they feed. However, because they averag 14"-18" and generally top out around 24" they don't get so huge like NP where they are eating the same panfish you'd like to be eating. It's been my experience that they often have a hard time competing with LMB in smaller ponds, especially those with few weeds for cover. They have no spines and are very fusiform making them easy to prey on by LMB. I have never seen them get out of control in ponds. They usually stay present in low numbers and act as a bonus fish when in competition with bass. They can however directly compete with LMB for resources. They could act as an additional predator on smaller bass helping to keep LMB numbers under control.
