In some general web-wandering I discovered that TPWD stocked tarpon in Braunig Reservoir in 1984 and 1985. There is actually a freshwater tarpon record of 10.12 lbs in 1986.

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocked 34 young tarpon from a drainage ditch in Calhoun County into Victor Braunig Reservoir, Bexar County, during 1984 and 1985. One fish was recovered by an angler in 1986, and another found dead in 1989. The latter fish died either from cold or from the effects of explosives being used to dissipate dying blue tilapia from a power plant intake. The tarpon had several blue tilapia in its stomach and one in its mouth (Howells and Garrett 1992)."

I'm all for a good redfish, but let's throw some tarpon back in there too! Yes, I'm mostly kidding. Mostly.

I can't imagine tarpon spawning in the fresh water but then again I am no baalagizt.

Can you imagine the thrill of catching a tarpon in a lake? Well of course anywhere is good but wow!

I know, I know, "why don't you just drive on down to Florida?"

Might ruin a few folks on bass fishing once they got their bait casting reel stripped to the arbor.

I have been hearing rumors of young tarpon being caught in brackish water in southern louisiana for several years now.

Seems like the Parks & Wildlife folks have learned to do the Florida strained bass mix pretty good for several years now...why not turn the loose figuring out how to grow us some good 10 pound bluegill?

Big Dale

off topic, but i wouldn't mind seeing tpw try to stock some peacocks in the powerplant lakes, don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to make it.

I just got all lightheaded for some reason.

Ten pound bluegill?! Well, they'd have to close the swimming beaches. Can you imagine ten pounders nibbling your legs?

That just means we'd have to come up with a "flailing swimmer" fly.

They have and for any reason if they shut the plant down during the winter months they are toast. . . unless maybe they try it farther south like Austin. . .

I think the canals in the Valley are ripe for peacock introduction. Doubt they'd do well much further north.

I think that triploid peacock bass would be the way to go, if there is such a thing.

i would think that areas of where tilipia can make the peacock could also make it.

Peacock Bass have been stocked at a few spots in the past, at Wilkes Power plant near Avinger they had it stocked in the late 70's but it is a private lake for employees only (I know a couple guys that fished it)
As for public waters, they have been stocked also in the past:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fis...5&Submit=Go

Thanks Mike

Interesting info. It would seem obvious that they didn't thrive or reproduce or we'd be hearing about the peacock bass fishing. That or its an extremely well kept secret!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fis...5&year=1979 I was thinking Bastrop would be a good lake.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/fishstock_state.phtml

There are some really odd stockings down there by species. Northern pike in Ladybird, Coho salmon and muskellunge in Inks, and Sunshine bass (the reciprocal cross of Palmetto Bass) in Buchanon (that's a recent one). They even stocked bighead carp at one time.

Those fisheries guys have all the fun.