Well...Unless we get a historic cold front that sticks around for a week, my tilapia survived again this year.
During '16 we saw a few more offspring than in '15, but not really more than we saw of young bluegill. The offspring seem to get to about 6" and then we don't see them again after late fall.
I'm still thinking it's almost all just the stockers surviving, which was maybe 4 dozen fish. I see them on open bank when we have had calm, sunny days in at least the 70's (a lot this winter).
It was warm enough throughout the winter that I actually caught one of the tilapia on a small crappie jig this January. Beautiful fish that put up a great fight.
Don't have actual temp measurements, but my pond has stayed warm enough that I've had catfish on the surface feeding all winter during feeds.
