TWRA says new record tilapia
 

I have a buddy works in the fisheries dept. and said they are entering tilapia in the state records and the winner right now is like 3.75 lbs. I know for a fact there are bigger ones out there because I saw a guy with one at GSp that went about 7lbs 3 yrs ago. It was funny because he had no idea what it was and it took me a minute to recognize it because I didn't think tilapia could live up here. So if you got a bigger one post it on here because I told him to join so he can monitor whats going on.

If they are recognizing them in that department will they be managing them as well going forward?

I've done all kinds of searchs and can't find any mention of tilapia records in Tennessee.

Definitely nothing in the fishing regulations about tilapia being an invasive species like the bighead card or the asian carp.

Here is the State of Florida and New World record tilapia....

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishin...ecord_tilapia/

I'll ask him to post it on here when I see him this Sunday at church.

Caught by Scott Fujimora

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...bb951040c4.jpg


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It's a recent thing. Scott caught that 16" one a few weeks ago and it weighed almost 4 pounds. He kept us up to date on Facebook saying that he submitted it to TWRA and it was in consideration for state record as TWRA may decide to start recognizing them. There's no way we can get rid of them at this point, they just multiply so fast. They are good eating and plentiful so maybe some light management will keep them here in good numbers for continuous harvesting.

tilapia
 

When did Tilapia first start being caught in Tennessee waters? What lakes are they being reported in as this is the first ive heard of it? Thanks for any info!

Old Hickory. Do a forum search and you will see everything.

Thanks Juice !! <'TK><
 

I just used it earlier looking for Sauger reports from the steam plant Works great.

We started catching them two winters ago. It was kept pretty tight lipped the first winter, and last winter became more popular, and now it's not even winter and it's blown up. So that I know of the winter of 2012/2013.

Yeah. I imagine they are packed in ridiculous numbers where they were being caught back then right now.

My best guess is they arrived in the lake from the 2010 flood.

Quite possible Travis. The first one I ever saw was that monster at the steam plant 2 winters ago 2012. What probably happened was somebody's private lake got washed out with the flood. and they have adapted to survive the cooler water which is not there normal habitat.

I called TWRA about them when I first caught one in 2012. The agent told me that there are no tilapia in OHL...I responded by telling him I had a cooler full that says he's wrong. I've caught several in the 14-16" range, and ate every one if them...guess I should've submitted my catches. I'm curious to see how the bass and flatheads react to a new potential forage species...we may start seeing lake records changing for a number of different species.


Chris Bryant

I wonder if the rockfish think they're as tasty as humans do?