My cages are 4' in diameter, with a depth of 4' also. I have two hatcheries that I normally get my HBG from, and usually get 3-4" fish. This year, I decided to try the traveling fish truck for HBG, just to satisfy my curiosity. The fish pictured in this thread was from this batch. Typically, HBG this size run 60-65 cents apiece around here. If I have a spare cage available next spring, I would like to try growing out a smaller size, say 2-3", to see what, (if any) difference it makes in ultimate size potential.

I have a few, (20 initially,) HBG that came from Arkansas, by way of a friend. These fish were placed into the pond in 2009. They too were all between 3-4", and were fin clipped to aid in identification. We have been able to catch a few, and some display unusual markings, at least compared to the other HBG. I have no idea how many have survived, but they are understandably scarce. I will search through my photos, to see if I can find one that shows the markings in detail.

Due to the heavy LMB presence in this pond, growing them out in a cage for a few months seems the best option. I try to remove the Bass when they get over 12", but they don't always cooperate.... it's no trouble keeping 100 in a cage for a couple of months, or until they get to 5-6". They grow quickly, and I don't suffer many mortalities, probably less than 10%.

"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"

If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1)
And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1)
Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT?
PB answer: It depends.