So how many here have caught Tilapia while Crappie fishing?
Untill very recently i wasent aware of just how many different types and colors of Tilapia there actually are.
And i was of the opinion that the only way to catch them was with a cast net.
I have on numerous occasions watched people using a net to catch them.
But i had never walked right up and looked at them.
I have talked with people from as far away as New York who come here just to net Tilapia. And they go back with large coolers full of them.
Ive also seen what i assume are Tilapia stick their face out of the water, especially in weeds. I also just assume that much of the surface activity we see is caused by them.
Over the last couple of years i have caught fish that i didnt recognise as for species. I caught them on jigs with a plastic grub, like a Bobby Garland baby shad. They fight hard like a bass, but they dont break water like a bass often does. I always net them as they are larger and more heavier than most Crappies, and its easier to handle them while in the net.
Recently while watching a video, the angler caught one, and later caught another.
But he was using Crickets while fishing for Blugills.
I sent him a message, asking what they were, and he said they were Tilapia.
So i had a name, and i went on line and checked, and sure enough i have been catching Tilapia. These are sort of a rosy color, with lips something like a succer, and almost human looking teeth.
I am told they are good to eat, but they are also an invasive species.
Maybe i will think differently about releasing them in the future.