Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Spread the Fish one Stocks?

I am going to be stocking 500 lbs. of 3/4 - 1 lb. tilapia in my 100 acre lake. Would it be best to transport the stocker fish around the lake by large cooler in a boat to different coves or will they disperse on their own if stocked by a truck at just one location (launch ramp)? I would like the tilapia to establish and spawn all over the lake to give maximum benefit of the bass population throughout the lake. Is it worth the effort to do spread by cooler / boat or will they spread out on their own? We don't have any feeders on the lake to concentrate them to one spot after we stock them.

Dave

Dave B,

Now thats a stocking program! Curious as to where you are located? Also, Mozambique Tilapia?

I always attempt to answer questions here based on my experience only, not someone else's theory or textbook or whatever...but in this case...100 acres is a little larger than anything I've had.

I can say in my little 3.5 acre pond, the Tilapia disperse very quickly from one stocking spot to occupy all parts of the pond. If I were you, however, I would stock them in every cove of your lake, just to be sure that they are quickly dispersed.

Please let us know how this experience goes for you and your lake.

Downside to attempting to disperse fish is more stress and mortality due to the time involved and leaving them in respective containers too long. However I do know Tilapia are hardy fish that can handle low D.O.'s.

Dave B :

Assuming a varied bass population {all sizes} I would place the tilapia in several places where cover is abundant. Bass are a very efficient predators. The more protection you can give any new fish until they adjust to the move the better. The fact that they are around a pound is good. However at that size you are talking about 600 fish . In a balanced lake you can easily have several 3+ lb. bass per acre. 300 bass can eat 600 tilapia in a short period of time especially if at first they are swimming around dazed from the move. I assume the fish providers will help and you can easily get to several locations .Good luck and keep us posted.ewest

ewest,

Have you actually seen bass eating 1 pound Tilapia? Just curious. In my experiece, limited though it is, the survival rate of the stocked Tilapia is very high, very high indeed. Its the hundreds and thousands of babies that are to come that will be consumed by the bass and other predators.

Put in 85 Tilaps that ranged from 4 to 8 inches in a 1.5 acre tank this last weekend and within 30 minutes they were all across the area and in the weeds. Thanks to Meadowlark and others I think this is going to work well and I only saw one good bass strike after stocking the Tilapia. When I have stocked other forage fish before I have seen many more strikes from the large bass. The water I am talking about is in central Tx. Got my fingers crossed.

I am stocking Mozambique tilapia. My current water temp. is a steady 70 degrees and climbing slowly daily. From those who have stocked tilapia, at what temperature did you start seeing tilapia start spawning and see fry? Did you see a lot of beds like you do bluegill? I am curious about how long before the ones I stock start feeding my bass with fry.

Dave

Meadowlark :

I have seen large bass {4-5 lbs} attack tilapia that size. The attack was so fast that I did not see the forage eaten. One second it was there the next it was gone. I have also had 1 lb. bass and 3/4 lb BG , which I hooked while fishing eaten off the line by large bass. The big bass knew the hooked fish was easy prey and took advantage of the opportunity. I am shocked every time it happens.

I agree with you that tilapia have a relativly good survival rate and are prolific reproducers. I also think that Dave B 's project will work. I think it will work much better if he can protect his new fish for the first 48 hours until they adjust and are aware that there are predators present . I would do this by putting them in at different places with cover or behind a blocking net if possible.

I have had reports from a trusted fisheries biologist { I did not see the event} of a school of 100 4-6 in. tilapia fresh from the hatchery being annihilated by waiting bass in short order. This was however at a place on a large lake where the bass were use to being fed unsuspecting hatchery fish.

What I don't know is status of Dave B's bass population and his existing forage base. If the bass are young {small ,under 3lbs.} he should be ok. If he has a small forage base and many 3+ lb bass { 4-6 per acre} it will be a race to see if the tilapia can reproduce enough to establish a population before they are eaten or grow big enough to avoid predation. Some combination of either will work.

I also don't know if a 3 lb. bass can eat a 1 lb. tilapia but I bet it will try. The ratio of bass eating prey up to 1/3 its size infers that a 3-4 lb. bass could do the job.

This should be interesting to find out what happens.I encourage Dave B to watch and report back. Thanks -- ewest

PS : Whoever destarred Meadowlark has problems . You should be ashamed !

Dave,

You may get all kinds of answers, but the most definitive paper I've seen on Tilapia is at this location:

http://srac.tamu.edu/tmppdfs/6047018-283fs.pdf

In my experience, this paper is right on the mark.

Reproduction does not occur below 68 degreees and kind of gradually increases up to 80 degrees which is optimal. My fish are spawning now in East Texas, making beds in shallows...haven't seen any fry but they carry the eggs and fry in the female's mouth for several days. My water temps were 74 last weekend and on the rise. Every little cold snap drives them back out of the shallows however...but it looks like that is mostly past now.

You should begin seeing them right away in the shallows, doing their thing. Soon after, little Tilapia will show up, but are quickly mostly eaten by your bass. Its wonderful, absolutely wonderful. What a fish!

ewest,

I especially appreciate your comments on the stars. My posts are 100% based on my experience only and are always meant to be helpful...I don't always agree with conventional thinking, in fact, often challenge it and do not intend to change, no matter the star count.

Now, I hear you on the dangers of bass predation at time of stocking, but it just hasn't happened to me...and I've seen my bass absolutely destroy 10000 threadfin shad...on two occasions (I'm a slow learner sometimes)...but the Tilapia make it just fine. I also recommend to Dave that he disperse his stocking to be safe, but honestly, Casca nailed it when he said they were all over the place within minutes without apparent predation.

ML, your stars are turned off so I can't reinstate you.

Ric,

Yes, I turned them off. I will not have the threat of being de-starred keep me from posting true to my experience...but I'll turn them back on, thanks.

Meadowlark :

I think Dave B should spread them out if he can do so without undue stress from the move. I think that is the safe approach. I would not want to take the chance that some bass would herd and trap them in a cove and work them over. In a 100 acre lake you need as many to reproduce as possible. The more water they disperse in the better . I know they will spread out quickly in a pond but he has 100 acres to cover with only 600 fish . The biologist in me says don't put your whole population at risk in one location . The risk is unnessary and can be avoided.

On the other point I appreciate your past advice and help. Don't change. You are 5 stars with me. No one on this site is 100% right, nor can we all have the same opinion . It is the willingness to take the time to share and help that is the real benefit of this site. NO ONE should be puinished for helping , no matter if they are right or wrong on their advice or opinion. We have a lot of knowledgeable members and in the end the full info on the question will be presented.

Thanks --ewest

ML:

Sorry about your star problem. I am always happy to hear what you think, contrary to CW or not (you can't contradict me, since I have no wisdom, just a SmartA... - err - Mouth).

In my experience I wouldn't worry about it. My pond is 1/4 your size and I stocked 100 tilapia about 8" long. Survival rate was very high with exponential payback. My current water temp is 82 this morning. The tilapia have been spawning for about six weeks when the temp would stay about 72.

Seeing them swim around is easy. Seeing them on beds is easy. Feeding them is easy. Catching them is hard.

TEXAS715,

Right on! Your experience and mine agree completely....and this year we are going to figure out a way to catch them!