I am a real newby but I have stocked talapia several years. I live in Texas so the water gets quite warm. I was told by my fish source not to stock until May 15 when the water will be over 65 degrees because I have a lot of bass. At the end of the year around Nov 15 there is a die off and I do not see any small Talapia because they have slowed down so much the bass has eaten them. The buzzards have a good time with the big ones though. I was told to use my boat and go around the edges and net the big ones when they have slowed down so much.