We have a 3.5 acre retention pond ( LMB, CNBG,CC,RES, GC) behind our house in north Florida. The local quality fish farm stocked 400 tilapia in '09, '11, '12, & '13. I have also put in some mail order tilapia again from a quality fish farm (TX). All stocking were supposed to contain both sexes. We have had mild winters & I have never seen any fish kills. Pond looks fine with little excess vegetation.
Each year as the pond begins to warm I see only two or three large males in the shallows looking for mates. Never seen a pair on a bed thought. As the whole pond warms they move into deeper warm water & are not seen again till next spring. Never seen a fish kill. Never seen a school in warm water as the pond cools off in late fall. Never a floating dead tilapia.
Is this normal, if I have a reproductive population? What would be the best way to informally survey the pond for Tilapia?
