I agree with you on the wild tilapia taste better than the farm raised. Just my opion. I have ate tilapia from Gibbons Creek, Lake Conroe, and Fairfield.

I'm still fishing for the last nile perch that TPWD stocked in fairfield. It's gotta be a big one by now.

Too late.




I ate it.

Sorry, but the science does not agree with you on vegetation (plants), nor does my experience. They mostly eat plankton, planktonic and benthic aquatic invertebrates, some aquatic macrophytes, detritus, and decomposing organic matter.

An exerpt from the SRAC:
"Tilipia are often considered filter feeders because they can efficiently harvest plankton from the water.
However, tilapia do not physically filter the water through gill rakers as efficiently as true filter feeders such
as gizzard shad and silver carp. The gills of tilapia secrete a mucous that traps plankton. The plankton-rich
mucous, or bolus, is then swallowed. "

Read the science at http://srac.tamu.edu/tmppdfs/9922301-283fs.pdf

Don't worry about plants.

Come to think about it...aren't people an invasive species? OMG..we have to get rid of ourselves!!!! I mean, we've invaded the waters, the lands, the skies and we've even invaded outerspace. Humans are just a nuisance species...where were the TP&W people when humans were taking over the countryside? Shame on them for slacking off and letting people take control.

i know what the book says, i have a degree in this from A&M. the simple fact of the matter is, when people have a filamentous algae problem on their pond, they stock tilapia to get rid of it. not saying that they don't also eat plankton, because that does make up some of their diet, but they prefer algae first. other vegetation is further down the list.

Not trying to be a smart allek or stir the pot. I'm just curious. I have read in this thread that there are some ponds that are stocked that are isolated from other water bodies; so there is no chance of escape. Now, my question is: How is that so? If you were to recieve a large rainfall event and your ponds fill up, I assume they are built with an emergency spillway. When that water flows around the emergency spillway, where does it go then?

maybe that's why they put the dam on fairfield on the north end. how often do you see water run uphill? doesnt do much for keeping the lake full though.

In my case, I'm happy to tell you...it goes out into cattle pastures, then to timberland, and then hay fields....far from any flowing water.

No fish, well I don't know about that walking catfish they have in Florida(which I don't have please), could cross those pastures alive to reach flowing water. It just isn't going to happen.

I've had my place over 40 years, through hurricanes, 36 inch rains in three days, 16 inch rains in one day and recently 10 inch rain in about 6 hours.....never, ever have I seen a native fish let alone a non-native fish come out through those spillways into and across acres of pasture land and certainly never across timberland and then hay fields.... never even come anywhere close to any flowing water.

TP&W inspected my set-up for grass carp and approved it without hesitation. No escape on my place....can't speak for others...I care about downstream from me...because I am downstream from someone, as are all of us.

Let's see now...how about your place? Do you use fertilizers and chemicals on your lawn? Do you keep it out of the drain water, never let it get into flowing water? Not stirring the pot, but I care about my place and hope everyone cares about theirs as well.

It never rains at my place, so I never have any drain water...

Nice answer...I gave a straight up honest answer to your question...how about doing the same?

i sure wish they'd plant some more hydrilla around our dfw lakes!

Well, first off. Yes I do fertilize my lawn, but I only add it at half the recommended rate in order to minimize excess nutrients in the drain water. I don't fertilize if there is the threat of a run-off event, only if the forecast is for a slow or light rain or heavy dew; this way the pellets dissolve and penetrate the soil rather than running off into the waterways. Secondly, as I said earlier, I wasn't trying to tick anyone off; it was just a question...I was simply making a point that ALL waterbodies are connected if there is enough rainfall over a given area. I wasn't accusing you of anything. I apologize if I offended you. It is quite apparent that I hit a nerve and I tried to make the point up front that that was not my intent.

Now about TPWD being IDIOTS?

I guess our new friend "bowfin" has a broken keyboard??????
nice way to make new friends....

FWIW, my only concerns in TX waters are:
1.) Zebra Mussel
2.) Hydrilla
3.) Giant Salvinia
4.) snakehead
5.) Grass carp

These 5 species have visibly PROVEN themselves to be a threat
to native species nationwide. I can't remember anything about a
Pacu invasion.
As far as TPWD, Bowfin, if you actually hunted or fished in this great state of ours, It would become very clear to you that even considering some of their past mistakes, TPWD has been instrumental in the maintenance & betterment of Texas' wildlife & fisheries management.
Your argument has some very valid points. It's too bad they're veiled with personal attacks on people you know nothing about, and inept logic/opinion construed as fact.

so go hug a spotted owl or something. lighten up!