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Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? #8249922 11/20/12 04:37 PM
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mstewart Offline OP
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A few weeks ago, I was throwing the castnet on Lake Lewisville (East Hills Park), and caught my first Texas Tilapia. I was surprised to find it in Lake Lewisville. Not only was I surprised that I caught it, but it happened during freezing temperatures in shallow water.

I thought these species died in cold temps, and I now know that this is not the case. A little larger, and I would have filleted and consumed it (Blackened Tilapia is great for dinner).

I plan on heading back out over the holiday and catch more (maybe larger) in the castnet.

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8250241 11/20/12 05:50 PM
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spiny norman Offline
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Never seen one in LL but not at all surprised. Twice since I've lived out here there have been red bellied pacu caught. I guess it goes with being in a big metropolitan area.

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8250830 11/20/12 08:48 PM
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mstewart Offline OP
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Pacu are also really good eating "Pacu Ribs". They served these at Truluck's Seafood and steak Restaurant in Addison (very good according to my father).

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8253520 11/21/12 03:11 PM
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Remember both are considered a invasive species and its illegal to release it back into the water. They are supposed to be gutted on the spot.

TP&W Regulations


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: Fish Killer] #8256131 11/22/12 03:20 AM
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[quote=Fish Killer]Remember both are considered a invasive species and its illegal to release it back into the water. They are supposed to be gutted on the spot.

Why do they have to be gutted on the spot? Can't you just do that at home if you are going to eat it?




Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8257091 11/22/12 03:01 PM
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Where does it say you cant release a tilapia? I have a different understanding as i read it.
We have caught them on lavon.

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8257231 11/22/12 03:36 PM
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ScottEvil Offline
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hydrilla is also an invasive species but we never hear anyone complain about it here?

But yes Tilapia are supposed to not be released back even though here in Central Texas they are stocked by TPWD to control algae growth


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: ScottEvil] #8257387 11/22/12 04:30 PM
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Always the same question, "Why?" Always the sanme answer, "Politics and money."

The laws with respect to fish in Texas are made by politicians. They get advice from biologists, but do not have to follow it. Plus, a state biologist understands which side his bread is buttered and and recommendations will be along company lines, and politically correct, if not biologically so.

Laws about tilapia, if they were to nmake any sense whatsoever now that the species is well entrenced in Texas (brought here initially by TP&WD, not private enterprise), should reflect those about another now common, well entrenched, invasive exotic species, the common carp. The common carp is considered "indigenous" by the law. Tilapia should be managed the same way and draconian laws that do nothing more than protect a very few economic interests should be revamped.

As of right here and now today, and any biologist will concur, tilapia exist in Texas in those places where they can, and do not exist in those places where they cannot. Biologically, not legally, speaking. Any law, rule, or regulation cannot change that.

Further, fish is the only farm animal in Texas that requires a license to produce, another draconian attempt to keep aquaculture out of Texas.

IF tilapia were legal, THEN there would be a huge backyard industry of "fish gardening" where tilapia are raised for family consumption in a tank or pond on the premises, sometimes in aquaponic systems that also produces vegetables for consumption. No other fish lends itself to such systems as well as the tilapia does.


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: Fishbreeder] #8257864 11/22/12 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted By: Fishbreeder
Always the same question, "Why?" Always the sanme answer, "Politics and money."

The laws with respect to fish in Texas are made by politicians. They get advice from biologists, but do not have to follow it. Plus, a state biologist understands which side his bread is buttered and and recommendations will be along company lines, and politically correct, if not biologically so.

Laws about tilapia, if they were to nmake any sense whatsoever now that the species is well entrenced in Texas (brought here initially by TP&WD, not private enterprise), should reflect those about another now common, well entrenched, invasive exotic species, the common carp. The common carp is considered "indigenous" by the law. Tilapia should be managed the same way and draconian laws that do nothing more than protect a very few economic interests should be revamped.

As of right here and now today, and any biologist will concur, tilapia exist in Texas in those places where they can, and do not exist in those places where they cannot. Biologically, not legally, speaking. Any law, rule, or regulation cannot change that.

Further, fish is the only farm animal in Texas that requires a license to produce, another draconian attempt to keep aquaculture out of Texas.

IF tilapia were legal, THEN there would be a huge backyard industry of "fish gardening" where tilapia are raised for family consumption in a tank or pond on the premises, sometimes in aquaponic systems that also produces vegetables for consumption. No other fish lends itself to such systems as well as the tilapia does.


Actually common carp were introduced by the US goverment back the late 1800's since the natural fish stocks were decimated by over fishing. So technically they are not any more of an invasive species than florida lmb, hybrid bass or freshwater redfish. But i agree otherwise that the laws on tilapia need to be changed and they should be considered naturalized like the common carp.


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: I love fishing] #8258489 11/22/12 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted By: I love fishing
[quote=Fish Killer]Remember both are considered a invasive species and its illegal to release it back into the water. They are supposed to be gutted on the spot.

Why do they have to be gutted on the spot? Can't you just do that at home if you are going to eat it?


If you gut them on the spot there is not any chance you could move the invasive to another water and infect it. Gutted fish dont live long.

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: Fish Killer] #8259714 11/23/12 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted By: Fish Killer
Remember both are considered a invasive species and its illegal to release it back into the water. They are supposed to be gutted on the spot.

TP&W Regulations


Gutted on the spot?

When did Adolf Hitlers relative start working for the TPWD?

Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8260099 11/23/12 03:41 PM
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Each water body has its own rules. If grass carp or tilapia were stocked for weed control, the rule changes to "catch and release only."

You cannot take live tilapia from public waters. Period. They must be eviscerated if you intend to keep them.

You will notice that if you buy a live tilapia at the grocery store, it will be killed before you can take possession.

If eviscerated immediatly, there is no way that fish if going to be a problem elsewhere, ever. Not that either species is a problem anyway. Or that Texas is one pristine habitat after another....powerplant cooling reservoirs, irrigation reservoirs, drinking water storage reservoirs, etc. Nothing natural about any of them.


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8261339 11/24/12 12:51 AM
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Kill them all, let God sort'em out


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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8261463 11/24/12 01:39 AM
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Re: Tilapia on Lake Lewisville? anyone else catch one? [Re: mstewart] #8277054 11/28/12 10:14 PM
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This actually sounds pretty good.

Will give it a try.

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