Tilapia thread

[txnative]

After careful consideration (about 2 minutes worth), I realized hoarding my tilapia knowledge is silly. Therefore, I will disclose some of my "secret" info:

1: tilapia are gregarious. If you catch one, count on more being near

2: tilapia are primarily herbivorous, but will eat small prey items...emphasis on SMALL

3: tilapia prefer still or slow moving water. Think calm pockets or eddies

4: tilapia tend to feed near the bottom

5: tilapia bite lightly and quickly, similar to small trout. If you are using lures, you will miss more than you hook. Be patient and VERY attentive to any sign of a hit

6: FISH SLOWLY !!! Tilapia will not chase a bait, and too much action deters them from hitting. If you are moving your lure at all, you are almost fishing too fast. Try sticking the rod in a holder if you can't help moving it.

7: bring a net. Tilapia go nuts when you get their heads out of water and you risk losing them during the landing process

8: WATCH THEIR D@MN DORSAL SPINES !!! I have puncture wounds all over my hands


Chris

[spottedbass]

So a TM fished under a float with the depth set right at the bottom should do the trick :D.

[txnative]

Yep. Purple haze is a good color, so is black/chartreause. Add a split shot 12" above it to help keep it down. I would set it about a foot off bottom. Tilapia will come up, take it, then settle back down. The float will not show any movement if the TM is right on bottom since the tilapia won't move, it will just sit there while you keep waiting for a hit. They pull the float down slowly and deliberately, similar to a crappie.


Chris

[Alphahawk]

Yep. Purple haze is a good color, so is black/chartreause. Add a split shot 12" above it to help keep it down. I would set it about a foot off bottom. Tilapia will come up, take it, then settle back down. The float will not show any movement if the TM is right on bottom since the tilapia won't move, it will just sit there while you keep waiting for a hit. They pull the float down slowly and deliberately, similar to a crappie.


Chris

Great stuff Chris...I need to fish with you to get some TM tips...LOL. I would like to run into some of those but in the lakes I fish I don't think that will happen. It blows my mind though that they are getting that big in there. How long have folks been catching them at GSP and have any been caught anywhere else on the lake?


Regards

[Jim]

I catch the blue tilapia all the time when down in Florida visiting the in-laws. They get 5+ lbs with regularity in the ponds I fish. The fishing tips sound exactly like I catch them. I use tiny hooks, light line, and a small piece of dark plastic worm. They mouth the bait and spit is quickly, but in the clear south Florida water it is easy to set the hook when you see them take it. Even the biggest ones don't fight very well. I lose most of them from getting wrapped in the weeds, not from pulling too hard.

Most of the kids catch them with small pieces of worms or dough balls.

As for tilapia in Old Hickory, the only other I heard about were from a friend cast netting them while looking for bait in Station Camp Creek. He may post some of his picks if he sees this.

Jim

[Dakota]

OK tilapia at the SP? When did they show up there? This is the first I've ever heard of this?

[white95v6]

i used to catch these all the time when i was a kid in central fl. i used dough balls and minnows. i can not tell you how many i have caught.

[jad2t]

Whoa... there are Tilapia in Tennessee?? I had no idea and I've never seen one nor caught one. I used to catch them all the time in south Florida. They're delicious to eat and I used to buy them all the time until I caught onto the issues with farm-raised fish from China. They're not cold water fish so I wouldn't expect to find any in the Caney where I most frequently fish. What about below OHD? I plan on fishing there several times next week. Those are some strong fish too, pound for pound possibly one of the strongest freshwater fish there is. I used to catch them on light tackle and small curly tail jigs and had a blast.

[txnative]

I doubt they would be in water that swift. I read about the farm raised issues, so I wouldn't buy them. The fact that I can catch them where they are feeding on a natural diet makes the GSP fish a lot healthier, and they are great tasting.


Chris

[jad2t]

I doubt they would be in water that swift. I read about the farm raised issues, so I wouldn't buy them. The fact that I can catch them where they are feeding on a natural diet makes the GSP fish a lot healthier, and they are great tasting.


Chris

Yep that's exactly why I don't buy them anymore. The natural diet make them healthier to eat and taste better and I sure do miss eating them. I've never fished GSP but I hear great things. Is there enough bank fishing access to make the trip worth it for me or do I need to get in a buddy's boat?

[txnative]

No bank access allowed. If you can get access to a boat, it's worth it. There are numerous species to catch and a lot of techniques work.


Chris

[MNfisher]

Yep that's exactly why I don't buy them anymore. The natural diet make them healthier to eat and taste better and I sure do miss eating them. I've never fished GSP but I hear great things. Is there enough bank fishing access to make the trip worth it for me or do I need to get in a buddy's boat?

No bank fishing access at all at the GSP. From what I hear, they closed it off to bank fishing after 9/11.

[StriperFan]

Somebody post a pic please. Tilapia is a fairly big family I think, just curious to see what these guys looks like. I'm confident I would know it if I were to catch one, but there is a possability I may never catch one so...on with the pics.

[txnative]

TravisC posted the pics I sent him in the gallatin steam plant thread.


Chris

[Travis C.]

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii40/MrCarney1979/IMG956523.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii40/MrCarney1979/IMG951576.jpg

[nofish]

I caught one at the steamplant a few weeks ago. I didn't know what it was so i took a picture and sent it to a friend. He said it was a talapia and not to do anything with it until he contacted twra. He sent them a picture and called them. They said it was indeed a talapia and no matter what do not put them back in the water. I ended up catching a few in the castnet and quite a few more on a white 1/8 maribou jig. I tried using them as live bait and cut bait with no luck. I didn't know they were worth eating so the rest of them i cut their heads off and threw them back in the water.

[Danocaster]

I guess a few fresh water Tilapia have been caught in both JPP and OH

Here's one of several I caught a few months ago at a small local pond

http://danocaster.smugmug.com/Other/Various-Pics/i-8dfdJ5b/0/X3/panfish%3F%20copy-X3.jpg

[Transplanted Sportsman]

Tilapia is one of the tastiest freshwater fish you will ever eat, I miss those fish at the end of my line, great fighters!! pound per pound they outshine Smallmouth Bass IMHO, I used to fish them quite often back home in central Mexico, although not quite sure what subspecies it may have been, thay do grow big down there!!, I agree with the aforementioned tips, one thing I will add is that you must be very stealthy in your approach and be very still, (my Dad used to make me crouch!! and he used to outfish me 4 to 1 when I did not listen!!) they are very spooky and they will dart swiftly at any sudden movement (at least they did back home) real fun to catch!!

[bd-]

Normally tilapia can't handle cold water, and they will die when the water temp gets below 50 degrees or so. I suppose they could have a chance of living through the winter at the Gallatin Steam Plant though.

They are a tasty food fish but there's actually some cause for concern here though. They are extremely prolific breeders, and we could have a real invasive species problem if they are able to over-winter in our local lakes in any numbers.

Most likely, I suspect some "bucket biologist" dumped a load of tilapia into the Steam Plant water recently. We will have to wait and see what happens after the winter.

bd

[txnative]

They were caught last winter, as well. I've also read reports of them being caught during the spring by crappie fishermen. I hope they are going to fail at becoming a prominent species, and I suggest anyone who catches one to make a meal of it. You will be doing the ecosystem a favor and they are remarkable on the plate.


Chris