Electro fished this beauty at one of our San Antonio area lakes on Saturday. She weighed 10.25 lbs, but camera angle makes her look even bigger.

What is the purpose of 'electro' fishing?

Lake managers and fisheries biologists use it as a tool to survey a water body's population. They record the data, compare to other benchmarks and prior electroshock data for that body of water, etc. to determine how well it's doing - or not doing.

The fish are typically all measured, weighed and released unharmed.

Thanks. So do the fish all just float up to the surface, and float there until the shock wears off (and then go about their business)?

It depends. The conductivity in the water has much to do with the how the fish are stunned. Sometimes they will float for 10, even 30 seconds, other times they never really float; but, rather become lethargic for a second or two. So you have to be quick on the net. Bigger fish rarely just lay calm for you to net. We have the ability to make adjustments with our equipment, but conductivity in the water is a huge factor.

The electrofishing boat operator sure wishes they would.....it ain't that easy most of the time, depending on water quality, type of fishing rig, size and type of fish, etc., the fish may only dart about and be impossible to catch or sometimes roll over deader'n a mackeral in the desert and everything inbetween.

Generally speaking, with a pretty good pulsating shocker, and middling water chemistry, many fish will roll over stunned long enough to gather them up and put them into a live well for weighing and measuring, then releasing in good shape, later.

It is still fishing and not catching, just with better odds. You still have to find the fish to catch them but you don't have to make them bite.

The better rigs are very powerful, driven by large generators and have the ability to change many settings to adjust for different water conditions and to target various different species.

A very long time ago in a different world (behind the Pine Curtain) I built and operated the very first LEGAL, privately owned electrofishing boat in the state. I was given the condition that the boat would always remain locked up on the farm, and if off the farm would never be left unattended out of my sight. Not so strict nowadays. But I'd not wanna get caught with the rig in public waters without a permit...

Interesting stuff. Thanks!

Beautiful fish!!

Beautiful markings on that one. Must have been clear water.

Nice fish SA!

I've had an antique wall phone with the original generator in it for almost 40 years. Back in college all my buddies who saw it wanted me to build a rig so we could 'call' up a few fish.

Salex,
That is a hawg!!

WOW, awesome fish!