Bill, I will try the cage to see what pans out with the GS. As for shore weedbeds I am fine in the 0-3 ft range. Then my pnd drops off rapidly to 12 - 15 ft, thus no deep weedbeds, just structure that I have added in there.
Cecil, it is a shame. I think its crazy what they have put in place to ensure healthy fish!! I have been trying to get to the male to female ration you have suggested. I can tell you that I see about 30 ribbons of eggs out there and when I put the YP in there were only about 60 all together if I am remembering correctly. I have added some smaller ones over time to help the male to female ratio but I think you were dead on as to what happened to the smaller males and the larger SMB. As for the YP that are there, I have never seen such large females!!!
Bender, I don't think my water is warm enough to get Talapia for any length of time to get any growth out of them. Have you done this in your climate? I also do not have a source that is close enough to supply them.
