Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose freshwater redfish

I was wondering if there is a place in texas to buy these fish? If so. what are the price of these fish? Also is it legal to take fish that are keeper size from a lake and stock them in your pond?

Bump.

Zach,

According to my info data base, there are two redfish producers in Texas that may or may not sell to the general public:

John Turner
Lonestar Aquafarms
Palacios, Texas
361-972-3240


Dr. David Duseth
Seaside Aquaculture
Palacios, Texas
361-972-6108

I've been intending to contact them myself and try to purchase some reds for my ponds, but just haven't had the time or made the time. I'm hoping to do that this fall.

If you find a seller, Zach, I'd appreciate hearing from you and would be willing to go in with you on buying and hauling the fish. Let me know.

I doubt that there are laws that are specific to reds. I'm not sure how they would fare in a small body of water. It would be interesting to find out.

Just a FYI.....Redfish likely would not survive the winter in all but deep South Texas. If you look at all the places where TPWD have stocked redfish in Texas Lakes...they are power plant lakes where the temp doesn't get below the mid 50's (approx).

Is this the fish in question? Tell me about them.

Yep, that's a red. They are a saltwater fish that will tolerate different degrees of salinity. They have been successfully stocked in various Texas power plant lakes. I'm not sure whether they have successfully reproduced in any of the lakes but they survive and grow.

Cajun eateries serve a lot of blackened redfish. I'm not too wild about them on the plate.

I'll give you a fisherman's perspective...a terrific fighting, aggressive fish that loves to sight feed in shallow water and, in spite of its downturned mouth, will regularly hit top water flys and lures. Actually it is a red drum that grows to sizes well over 50 pounds but the common size in our bays runs up to around 36 inches, which is the largest I have personally taken.

Like most all saltwater game fish, the reds are far stronger, much better fighters than any warmwater freshwater fish. South Texas, down Laguna way, has some of the world's best flats fishing for reds and other species...but the bays around Galveston ain't bad either

In my opinion, reds are over-rated as a sport fish - compared to a striped bass, they are are wimps - OK, a striper is an anadromous salwater fish - but it's offspring HSB will out-fight either....

Another fisherman's perspective...

My opinion is that in a tug of war between redfish and striper (or HSB) it would be a draw for most of the fight but the red would win eventually on endurance. Those things just don't quit!!

Redfish is good on grilled or on the half shell but not very good fried. Stripers taste mucho better!

Just got back this weekend from Red Fishig off Port O'Connor. We caught 35 five of the bull reds with the smallest measuring 38". At those size they aren't very good eting but a 24" is pretty good. Strong fighter with a lot of power.

Agree with unclefish, stripers taste much better.

Unclefish, don’t get me wrong – I have the highest regard for the redfish – they have become very popular since banning commercial fishing and protected by the efforts of the GCCC.

In the 50’s they were mostly caught on trot-lines along the causeway between Aransas Pass and P.A. – baited with strips of red cloth – I’m older, but not wiser than the rest of you guys... :p

I have fished for them from Chandeleur Sound in Louisiana, accessable by float plane, and every bay and estuary between there and Port Isabel at South Padre.

My money’s on the stripers and HSB for sport and endurance - depending upon the time of year...

George, we used to trotline on the coast with eucalyptus leaves. They worked.

I will look into buying some at those places, meadowlark. I believe they do have a temp. tolarance like like tilipia and they would need warmer water. I will do some reasearch to find out.

Zach,

No question they have an intolerance for low water temps....but they also have what I call a common sense mechanism that causes them to seek out the warmest water source. I've seen ice on portions of Galveston Bay, but most of the reds do just fine because they move to deeper warmer water. I've caught redfish 20 miles out in the Gulf in 80 feet of water in some severe winters.

The reason I think there is some possibility of winter survival in ponds at my latitude is that I've got some 25 foot water in one pond. I think there is a reasonable probability that they can survive there in most of the winters like we have had the last few years. I'd like to try it because the potential rewards far outweigh the risks, IMO.

Hey Guys,

They are definitely grow out in an aquaculture setting and if you go to this link and scroll down to the following there should be ample information:

http://aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac.htm


Red Drum

# 320 - Red Drum: Biology and Life History PDF (28k)

# 321 - Red Drum: Site Selection and Pond Construction PDF (44k)

# 322 - Red Drum: Production of Food Fish PDF (51k)

# 323 - Red Drum: Brood Stock and Hatchery Production PDF (47k)

# 324 - Red Drum: Production of Fingerlings and Stocker PDF (836k)

I've raised several red fish in my backyard water garden that were caught legaly f/ Louisiana (16inches). My pond was about 3000 gallons at the time. I later released them in a local park pond. I'd like to imagine some kid hooking one,,,,,smile. Last year I made several calls and got the impression that most ponds just get too cool to keep Red fish esspecailly my east Texas pond. Most never reproduce even in the power plant lakes. I really haven't seen any data on the cold water kill off temperture..........I would be very interested if anyone has had experence w/ such a fantastic fish in their ponds!

I want to say Redfsh (red DRUM) cannot reproduce in total freshwater

they can not repoduce in fresh water but can live. I have reasearched and they are a little more sensitive when if fresh water. I am currently trying to stock my pond with a few reds and some other coastal fish that will survive fresh water......

Bobby, let us know how that works. Reds are a great sporting fish and very good eating, if made properly. They grow very quickly if the venue works. Do you have tilapia in your water?

No tilapia ,. I am trying to get some vegitation going in the pond. Loads of Bream and tons of gamubsia and some large koi and couple GC. recently started bucket stocking adult wild shiners and added some pure CNBG to increase the panfish production.

If I can get some redfish with some size I am thinking the only thing that will produce fast enough to feed them is the CNBG.

Bobby rice I am looking to get redfish for my pond as well. Please let me know if you are able to find some to buy. I have exhausted just about every resource in an attempt to buy some with zero success.

Any new info on this topic?

I know rice has redfish in his pond

Try to pm him

I don’t think you will find a place to buy redfish very easily. If your pond has forage enough to handle a nice sized redfish you might have to embark on a fishing adventure. Take a cooler or live well with you. Catch one from the wild and relocate it. Be aware you might have a size minimum length and possession limit to be concerned with. You could stock a couple 18-25 inch reds or what ever you can keep or catch.
They are hardy and transports well, just make sure you have an aerator in your live well or cooler.
They are really easy to acclimate over. I drain about half way down and refill by letting a well water hose drizzle to slowly fill back up. Repeat this a few times and you should be at or near fresh water.
On the last time I use water from the pond, I guess you could use fresh water from the pond right from the get go.
All you really need to do is slowly keep adding fresh water to gradually take the salinity to the level of the pond.
If you fish and catch jack Crevelle, Southern Founder, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon or Snook you could do the same.