Georgia Giants

[Speck]

I'm thinking about stocking some Georgia Giant hybrid bream in my 4 acre pond. I've got a good bass population started to keep them from over populating. Has anyone stocked these? Had any luck with them? Thanks Speck.

[Darryl Morris]

I can't contribute to your question. But if you do and when you get them established I'd love an invitation to catch and release some.

I've heard alot about the super fight and excitement of the catch with the GG bluegill. Sounds like something that's a once in a lifetime experience.

Good Luck!!!

[Speck]

If I get them Darryl, you'll have an invite. Speck

[Billbob]

i need sum to

[reelcrappie]

I don't think you will have a problem with them over populating, I think they are sterile. I could be wrong but it seems that I read that somewhere.

[Illinoisgiller]

Speckhunter- Before you consider adding ANY type of hybrid bluegill to your pond, Google up [ hybrid bluegill myth ] . It is a very real informative study from state of MO. on how these hybrids work out in the long run.
You may be a bit supprised at these results. Mike
On a positive note, these things are aggressive and a blast to catch while they last. Mike

[crappiefarmer]

I have a neiboring farmer that dug apond and stocked them a few years ago. He liked to eat them and cleaned the pond of them in one summer. He did not know that they didn't reproduce. They were some biguns though. CF

[Speck]

I talked to a fisheries Biologist from the farm that breeds them. He assured me that the Georgia Giant hybrid will reproduce. The second and third generations will be smaller than the first however they are still huge compared to a regular blue gill. They will also inter breed with regular blue gills producing larger offspring. Under good conditions, they are supposed to reach hand size in 6 months and are 3 to 3 1/2 POUNDS full grown. I found them at www.kens-fishfarm.com. I'll be interested in trying them.

[fishin3]

I saw a show yestereday on them. O'Neil Outside, he was fishing for them in a pond in central Georgia. They were huge. He said they got htem from Ken's Fish Hatcher. I think it is the home of the Goergia Giant He siad that it is about the 10th generation that they start going down in size. I don't know but would like to catch some 2 lb gills out of our pond. Said they were very aggresive just had to get the bait near them. This pond had only been stocked for 2 yrs and they were already 2 hand sizes. He could hold them and they would cover both of his hands. You might be able to look up the hatcher or his site and get more info.

[blairarnold]

A hybrid is a cross between a bluegill and a green sunfish, and after several generations you will not like the result, at least no one has that I know that has tried them. No one would ever stock green sunfish in their ponds, but that is what you will eventually end up with. A friend of mine has the largest bream in his pond that I have ever seen, and it has been that way for 10 years or so. He has mostly copper nosed bluegill. Truthfully I don't know if they are that big because of the subspecies or because he has very fertile water and an excess population of bass.