Tonight, I brought home some store-bought Tilapia for us to cook for dinner (the package actually said "wild caught"). It was a very nice flaky meat (I've never tried it before). We used "Chef Paul Prudehommes" seafood magic and it really was magical.

I would like to know what ya'll think about Tilapia. I liked it alot more than I thought I would have. Also, where can you catch some in Texas (if they are in Texas) waters if possible and what would you use for bait.

- Mike

Tilapia is a very common fish in restaurants, about as much so as cod i.e. Luby's. They reproduce and grow very fast, which was the initial purpose for bringing them to America (food), I believe they are native to Africa and Asia. They mainly eat grasses and such, but are becoming very invasive fish. I believe, (NOT POSITIVE) that game wardens want every fish that is caught killed at this time. Again, NOT POSITIVE. It is good eating, not the best, but good.

Anyway, let's go fish again.

I heard that is because they reproduce too fast...

I thought you had to either net Tilapia or bowfish for the species. I was always under the impression that they had smaller mouths and don't go for the old baited hook routine. Good fish, though.

Very good eating, but I don't know where they come from. Try them blackend.

Lake fairfield has them and when I was younger we csught them every once in while when trolling for redfish.

There are a ton of them on Fayette Co. I am not sure how to catch them. I would imagine that you could fish for them like any other brim type fish. Little hooks and maybe a piece of worm? Anyway they are tasty little fish.

Bow fish for them at Fairfield this spring.
I agree they are delicious

A casting net on Fairfield will produce all anyone wants, its not uncommon when catching bait, perch&shad, to catch 5-50 per throw. They make excellent bait and eat as good as anything I've ever had. I consider them as good or maybe better than Flounder or Crappie. Wild Tilapia are superior in taste to farm raised fish. I can't see that the Tilapia in Fairfield are hurting the perch or any other fish population, theres plenty of them and plenty of all other fish. They are the highest protein of any bait fish and used in lots of private lakes where they are trying to raise trophy bass.
I have talked to many on Fairfield about catching Tilapia and few if any target them or catch them regularly. They have been caught on crickets, worms, and lots of different artificial baits (rattletraps-spoons-spinners) but not in any significant numbers.
The TPWD regulations call for them to be gutted when leaving the lake to keep from spreading to other bodies of water.

There are thousands in Calaveras Lake. I've seen fisherman go after them w/cast nets and bring in boat loads. They sell them to local Mexican restaurants. I caught two good sized ones just going after shad from the shore. I use the small ones for bait.

what is the best time off year to catch them

at fairfeild

Spring till fall, much harder in winter. I only caught four on Tuesday but they all would go two lb or better.

They are definitely tasty ! It's my wife's favorite fish to eat.

these fish are a warm water fish and will die if the water gets to cold. back in the 80's when all the lakes froze ther were thousands of these fish laying dead on the banks of fairfield. the workers at the park were using rakes to pull the dead fish from the water. the buzzards in the area were everwhere eating the fish.

TILAPIA,

THESE FISH WERE BROUGHT INTO THE USA IN FLORIDA DURING THE
60'S TO HELP CONTROL THE GRASS AND GROWTH IN ALL THE
PHOS PITS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA. THEY WERE CALLED NILE
PERCH BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE BROUGHT IN FROM THE
NILE RIVER.

THEY ARE VEGETERIAN FOR THE MOST PART AND DO NOT COMPETE
WITH SPORT FISH FOR LIVE BAIT.WE USED TO CATCH THEM ON BREAD BALLS OR COLORED DOUGH LIKE BAITS.

THEY ARE HAVERESTED BY CAST NETTING AND BACK IN THE DAY WITH NO REGS WE USED TO FILL A ALUMINUM FLAT BOAT EASY WITH A CAST NET AND SELL THEM FOR 25 CENTS A POUND.THE TABLE FAIR DID NOT CATCH ON UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD.
I THINK THEY TASTE TEALLY GOOD AND THE WHITE MEAT IS EASY TO
CLEAN AND COOK.
THEY CAN GROW TO AS LAREGE AS 8 POUNDS OT SO AND WHEN HOOK THEY ARE VERY STRONG.

THESE ARE THE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT THE NILE PERCH (TILAPIA)

STAY INSIDE AND STAY WARM.