Yes, Jackie I agree. The only idiots here are those who would say such a thing about them. Actually those people who would say that are far worse than idiots.

We have such an outstanding fishery in Texas. We are so blessed. From the salt where redfish are now far in abundance compared to years ago to freshwater where we can catch stripers, hybrids, reds, and not to mention LMB out of the programs that TPWD has initiated.

Idiots, hardly. Other than Alaska, as a fishing nut, there is no place I would rather be than in Texas.

Thank you, TPWD for the outstanding work you do.

I think we should all gang up and go fishing.

find a job so you will have something to do

This topic has been very interesting and I hope someone has learned something from this. I am not picking on stumpjumper but now he knows there are tilapia in Lake Conroe. Stumpjumper if you would like to I can tell you or show you a good place on Conroe that has tilapia. I also thought Conroe did not have any in the lake until I saw them. I didn't believe it but after I saw them then I was interested in how they got in the lake. Maybe all of us have learned something from this topic. I now know what the tilapia eats and before I didn't. Maybe this topic should have been started by asking information instead of attacking someone. This is just my opinion!

Broken keyboard� no... basically a lurker� yes

My points were and are bout three proven invasive species being promoted in eastern Texas waters: Rios, Pacu and Tilapia.

1. Rios are native to Western Texas water sheds� NOT East Texas, where (looking at the New Orleans model) their introduction would most certainly have very detrimental effects.

2. Aquarium released Pacu are consistently found in aquatic ecosystems across the US (Check the References section of the Pacu Wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacu#cite_note-bounty-7 ). As numerous fish species have repeatedly been proven to move hundreds of miles in very short amount of times, especially in flooding / high water situations, and the chances of aquarium or open pond/tank released Pacu moving to the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana are very high. As a mature pacu can release upwards of a million larva, it would only take a couple of mature individual pacu to establish a population in areas far downstream of East Texas ponds. Please remember that Meadowlark said, �We all live downstream�. (And after reading his comments above, I'm sure that Meadowlark was being extremely careful, but regardless of how carefully planned an open ponds system is, my original point was and is that I doubt that pacu larva would really care if they washed over pastures or woodlands in a possible journey with flood waters.)

3. Yes � IMHO, it is very saddening to learn that more than one species of Tilapia are established and continue to be released into Texas waters. As reported by others on this website, Tilapia do not stay where they are released. So, why allow/promote more introduction of this invasive species � especial to �new� or possibly unaffected watersheds??

The history of invasives in the US is replete with disastrous results by individuals and government entities who thought that they �knew best� for the rest of us. Did ya know that a single aquaculturist in Arkansas was responsible for the first introductions of Big Head, Black AND Silver Carp to the open waters of the US when he lost containment of his ponds in Arkansas? �These Asian carp were brought to North America in the early 1970s to remove algae from aquaculture ponds. By the early 1980s, the bighead carp and silver carp had escaped to open waters of the Mississippi River Basin. Use of juveniles as bait and release of adults into new habitats contribute to their spread.� http://www.sgnis.org/www/carp.htm Bait? Yes, as I previously stated, "We fishermen are often our own worse enemies�"

As another example of invasives, did you know that a single individual, �Mr. Eugene Scheiffelin, decided that New York should be home to all Shakespeare's songbirds�. In 1890 he released 60 starlings into Central Park. A year later he released 40 more. This time his romantic gesture was a success. And what a success it was!� http://uh.edu/engines/epi468.htm

All that I ever said was all that introductions of possible (and especially known) aquatic invasives should have to pass extremely strict regulations - for that matter regulations should be uniform across the entire watershed, regardles of size.

'Cuz �We all live downstream� isn�t it better to err on the side of caution in these matters??? The problem is that once released, it cannot be taken back.

As far as TP&W is concerned, as I said, they are a great agency and have done and are doing a temendous amount of good, BUT I find it incredulous that while they are working so diligently to contain certain invasives, they seem to be turning a blind eye to the introduction or relocation of others? Isn�t that somewhat schizophrenic behavior? By the way, I would bet that a host of TP&W officers would agree with that statement�.

And No, I didn�t slander Texas (gheezzzz), and I�m sorry that I didn�t know that ya� had to have posted 500 plus �sweet� comments prior to being allowed to post ANY complaints about possible dangers to the ecosystem� So, rather than offend anyone else, I guess I�ll just go back to �lurking��

Wonder what we should do about the inter-connecting pipelines going to and from all of tarrant county water authority's lakes? Sometimes you all live up stream.

If i had a chance to pick one fish. I'd pick tilapia.

Sorry I did not reply earlier, I have been busy. I know that Conroe has Tilapia but I have no idea which variety. I have fished a ton of tournaments on Conroe for a long time and I see lots of Tilapia in the spring when I am site fishing.

By the way, I am happy they are in there. I liked the Hydrilla because it made the lake so good. The only invasive I am a negative on is the amur.

My point was just to say that we have some kind of Tilapia that make it through the winter. I don't have a bone to pick with anyone.

Russell Cecil

Blue tilapia are in the lake. I have seen many schools of them as of late in the shallows.

RC,

IMO, the problem wasn't/isn't the grass carp...its just that they stocked WAY too many. The grass carp were just doing what they do....eating hydrilla. I think those who stocked them learned from this mistake.

For several years, TPWD advocated stocking rates for grass carp in ponds over 20 per acre. I found out through trail and error, that I only need to stock 1 or 2 per acre to achieve good weed control...control not elimination. Chemical free control is just terrific, IMO.


The sterile grass carp is a great pond management tool, a tough and very strong fighting fish when caught, and also can be excellent eating. They get blamed for just doing what they do when it is almost always the human who has made the error.

Agdave112,

Would you please let us know in February or so if you are still seeing them....alive. If so, something very interesting is going on there.

I heard that fish eggs can be can be sucked up with evaporating water and come down in rain. Any truth to this?

no

Please tell me you're joking.