The pond is an enigma wrapped in mystery. Yes! what pond in North Florida has problems with a Beaver?
I would discourage discounting the presence of any of the predator fish listed above as negligible if they are still present in your pond. If they are there ... there is an impact that isn't negligible.
I agree! The Gar was eliminated in the late '90s. I have not seen or caught one since. I think he was a bucket stock. The bowfin were also first caught in the late '90s while early evening fishing for LMB. About a half dozen eliminated none seen or caught since then. The BNBH were eliminated the last caught in '23 about a half dozen all the same size, mature adults RWs 75%. No fry balls seen near shore since '01. What pond in Florida does not have Gators? We have one now. As many as 8 about 5 years ago. 3 in '23. average 4-6'. They are invited to leave routinely.
But you don't say how many were marked. Is it the 177 mentioned below? If not, how many were marked at that time when you recaptured 2 of 80?
The 2 recapture were from the group of 80 marked. 177 is the total marked from angling & trapping to date. Last recapture ,one 12 Nov. Total recaptures from start 6.
How many BG have you caught these past 10 days?
I have not been consistent with every day trapping or angling. The last 10 days active , both trapping & fishing a total of 76 BG. My best location for the trap now recovers less than 5 BGs it averaged 10 or more in late OCT early NOV. The BG now feed further out & are reluctant to come close to the bank to get the feed that drifts there.
How many hours have you fished these past 10 days?
Ballpark guess 6hr. At the normal feeding time & tossing the line into the feed area, it takes a minute or two & I have a BG always >8". If I was efficient, perhaps I could catch 10 an hour. It is me that limits the amount of fish/hour not the fish.
Did you record the marked BG mentioned above? For example, Date, length, and weight? You mentioned that they were 100 RW, so at least you must have weighed them and measured their length? Can you report the metrics collected thus far?
I have the weights only for the original 80 or so fish. I abandoned the weights when I saw their RW range in the 80-100% . I would be happy with a pond with all fish in that range. I have been good with the lengths. I have not been as accurate with the dates. I have continued to take the lengths of all fish caught. Please remember my computer in school was a slide rule & typewriter. Typing has never been my Forte. I was hoping that this question would not be asked. I will provide my summary that I did with pencil, calculator & paper. All is Ballpark. I am not planning on publishing a paper.
3"-8 BG 5%, 3.5-20 11%, 4" 44 25% ,4.5 -10 6%, 5-19 11%, 5.5" -5 3%, 6" -18 10%, 6.5 -12 7%, 7"-14 8%, 7.5 -2 1%, 8"-4 2%, 8.5-2 1%, 9"-7 4%, 9.5 -6 3%, 10"-6 3%
One species that could be of particular importance is the Blue Tilapia that inhabit your pond.
I have tried to establish BTP as a second forage fish with VERY little success. An inversion eliminated all but one large Tilapia early last winter. They have come to feed with the BG and I see in the past schools of the larger fish this time of year but only that single BTP in '25. I have never seen small BTP at any time of the year or any year.
What type of feed are you feeding?
Yes! is a GOOD answer. '24 & '25 I have a partial bag of Aquamax Starter that I hand throw at the bank for any fingerling that might find it & MFs in the Spring. Rest of the year, It is an on occasion thing, to observe what fish are near shore, well I have some time & don't want to start the lawn. Aquamax Sport 500 or MVP fish in the early Spring before, during, & after the spawn, Aquamax Game fish Chow most of the time. In the past it was the cheap Nutrena from Tractor supply. It was what was available. Budget? It is always been a cost benefit. Yes, I could afford more but have never seen the benefit. The pond in recent years has had that olive green, 30" visibility year round. I never wanted to get into the feeder thing. I am into average, healthy, & balance.
This is the second painful attempt. First lost to my stupidity!
