In the interests of �fair and balanced�, I�d like to offer a slightly different view.
First to recap what has been written, we have Galveston and surrounding waters being overtaken by a fish which we all know has greatly overstated reproduction capabilities. We have area bayous void of vegetation and algae because of this same menace. We have the threat of a fish kill of epic proportions with unknown environmental impacts. Last, but certainly not least, we have Government agents coming to take our Tilapia away and save us from raising unhealthy, overweight, LMB which reportedly are getting too large for their farm ponds in some areas of East Texas.
For the past 45 years, I lived on one of those bayous and fished the waters around Galveston about twice a week. I think I can provide a little �on the scene info�. First, the trout fishing is strong, although the sizes aren�t what they used to be nor what we would like. The Redfish are the strongest they have ever been. The Tarpon fishing (remember a Tarpon prefers areas with freshwater run-off such as bayous) this summer was the best in the recent history. Tarpon alley, a stretch of water about 6 to 8 miles off the beach from north of Galveston to south of Freeport was the best it has ever been. I lived first hand through the huge fish kills of the 80�s from the cold winters back then. The media reports of a completely devastated fishery were greatly exaggerated. Yes, the fishing was more difficult for a couple of years, but it rebounded quickly. No one, at least nothing I saw, spoke of any long term adverse environmental impacts from the freezes�in fact some evidence is quite the contrary. The bayou I lived on until two months ago was matted with vegetation and algae. We may be seeing some slight overstatements here.
Government agents�.its funny but a local county tax agent came out to the Ranch yesterday to do his annual walk around for tax appraisals. He looked over at the old chicken shed, with its shiny new tin roof and new outside electrical pole and jokingly asked �what are you doing, putting a whiskey stile in that old chicken coop�? I mumbled something inaudible about chickens and hurricanes. I couldn�t possibly let him know that underneath that new tin roof and within those rusting tin walls, beat the heart of a system for producing Tilapia and, gasp, who knows what other evil fish. However, since everyone knows that Tilapia reproduction is greatly overstated, he probably would have been okay with it�but he most assuredly would have preferred the moonshine.
The predator fish on Meadowlark Ranch will finally get relief from their unhealthy, overweight conditions and mistreatment of being forced to outgrow their homes�10 pound LMB will be just a distant memory�when the Government agents take my Tilapia away.
