Cliff, Did you read the post above? Maybe I was not clear on the point. Tilapia are illegal in GA. THey would work great in your neck of the woods. If you did stock them under the radar they would be some of the best forage besides bluegill you could ask for. Got a feeder? they eat fish food as well. However I can not be involved with them for obviuos reasons. Almost forgot, yes they would work with threadfin shad. Not sure of the consequences if they are illegally stocked???