Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Tilapia 2007-2008 did they make it this year?

Looking for some feedback from some of the Texas Experts about Tilapia servival this Winter. I don't go to the Pond every day and I only saw two floaters all Winter. I stocked 300 lbs of Tilapia in April and they did their Job. I'm hoping most of them made it through the Winter. (5 Acres, 25-30 ft. in some places, 15-20 in others)

Any ideas from the other Texas Folk on how this Winter's weather treated your Tilapia? Or do I have to wait until after the Plankton Bloom to see how they handle the Green Stuff?

They did such a great job last year, I'm sold on these little Vegans.

If you're in Hockley, that would mean you're NW of Houston, right?

We're SE of San Antonio, and tilapia have definitely passed on in 2 of our 3 ponds. The third pond is the largest and deepest, and we're not really sure how many, if any, survived.

Even in that pond, we noticed a few struggling and acting very sluggish about a month ago, but hopefully not all suffered the same fate.

That particular pond is 4-4.5 acres and is about 20 ft. deep, with several other areas over 12 feet. It sounds similar to your pond in that way. I'll be interested to see how many tilapia wintered in your pond and ours.

Have you been monitoring your water temperature this winter? If so, what is the lowest you've recorded?

Mine in Giddings died last month...I have never seen them make it through the winter...My pond is about 1 1/2 acres and about 10ft deep...also I'm sure the Otter that visits my pond did'nt help. You stocked 300lbs? I do 20lbs a year and those things are everywhere.

Alive and well. Water is quickly warming up and are moving around. Have seen several sizes from very large to medium. I'll try to get a water temp reading in the next couple of days.

715- Where in Texas are ya?

Lost mine the end of December......

I am in Wood County in Northeast Texas. I stocked 15 lbs in my 1.7 acre spring fed pond. I have not seen any floaters, but I don't live on the land. Last weekend I observed numerous sizes still alive and kicking. Theo noted in response to my post in the "Questions and Observations" section, that survival might be due to spring water in excess of 60 degrees. My pond has strong flow through so that sounded reasonable to me although it has not really been that cold. Haven't had a chance to measure the temp of the spring yet.

I would appreaciate any response to my questions posted in the "Questions and Observations" post. It is under the topic "first year pond observations." I had several questions about restocking Tilapia when soem overwinter and whether you can overstock Tilapia.

Sgt911, I meant 300 of them, total weight 100 lbs.

We have 2 white tailed Hawks and a Bald Eagle having their way with the pond.

Might now have needed the cold!

Davatsa,

Nixon, Tx. Forgot to check the water temp yesterday but saw about 100 and threw out some feed and they started hitting it. Redears in another area where in large numbers and hitting feed hard.

Not a bad catch for a few hours.

I saw a large very active Tilapia last week end. We stocked 140 lb. in 25 acres. I stopped seeing them in early December and thought we had a total kill off. I saw some small ones a couple weeks ago, so thought maybe the young ones might have survived in the warm well water we are adding. I now saw a mature one from last year stock, so I am hopeful we had more survive.
I just have to make another 2 weeks and I will be home free. I will survey the survivor population and then give Todd Overton the order for the 2008 stocking plan.

Todd,
When will you have Tilapia available? My water will be warm enough by mid- March.