Florida's exotic panfish

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Originally Posted by john h

most likely tiipia got in the waterways duing a flood, thats how the asian carp got in the waterways up here...its an old wifes tail bout birds carrying the eggs and pooping them elsewhere, thee digestive enzymes automatically kil any eggs they eat

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I live in SE VA and the last house I lived in wasn't near anything you'd consider a lake or a river. 2-3 miles to a swamp or beaver pond.
After Hurricane Floyd we had a major flood. Water was flowing over the road in front of our house. The kids were out messing in it, as kids will do, and came back and said "There's fish in the road!" I said "Sure there is." all fatherly and knowing. They got my dip net and netted a pickerel about 9-10"
I guess I'm saying, floods definately spread fish. And I agree that no egg will live in a bird's stomach. I'm sceptical of the foot thing too. No offense to anybody. I've heard it my whole life too.

The companty i work for we sell a lot of the Tilapia to Mexican resturantsit it is pretty good to eat very tasty as for them Oscars they are some mean -ss fish the ones in my fish tanks better watch it they might be next.

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Originally Posted by Bowfin

SteveGibson, How do the gators react to the kayaks? I don't think my nerves could stand a gator bumping the bottom of my yak while I'm trying to fish.
So how are the Florida ER's? They speak English there?

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Like Dixie said, gators really aren't any problem. They usually swim off before you can get close. Gators in the wild don't want to be around humans.

As far as how exotic fish spread, all I meant was I don't know how. I just theorized. It's could be true that the birds are just an old wive's tale. I really don't know how tilapia spread. Perhaps flooding?

One thing I will tell you is that oscars and Mayan cichlids fight like no other fish for their size. I"ve had to beef up to 8-pound tippet. They like to hit a fly, then head right back into the cover. They're strong and fast.

I've eaten oscars and they are really good. They have thick, white and flakey fillets. But the mercury content isn't good.

My dad use to take me to the glades to fish. We caught oscar like crazy! It was a really fun! They have some kill bass in there too plus the nature in the glades is amazing! To bad the is so much mercury in there.
Bill

When my wife and I lived in Miami,we would catch oscars all the time,peacocks too,just not the big ones like on T.V.
When I moved up to Mo. a neighbor had an aqaraium,and he proudly showed me his 2# oscar he paid 50$ for at the pet store....Bwhaaaaaa....I didn't know we were eating 100$ a plate dinners back then :)

wonder what the world record oscar is......weight lenght

those look like they would be a blast i bet they fight really hard

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Originally Posted by slab_slayin_fool

wonder what the world record oscar is......weight lenght

those look like they would be a blast i bet they fight really hard

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They fight unlike any other freshwater fish. They're very strong and love to slug it out.

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Originally Posted by SteveGibson

In South Florida, we have two panfish that are something else. Oscars and Mayan cichilids fight like no other panfish. They're super strong and fast.

You fish for them in South Florida waters the same way you'd fish for panfish anywhere. I usually start out with No. 10 poppers, and will switch to subsurface flies (Myakka Minnows) when the action slows.

The action and the fight are incredible.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC02543.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/IM002101.jpg

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Steve,
I enjoyed this post. Nice change of tactics, fish, and scenery. Keep them coming! I checked out your website and would like to go fishin with you someday if I ever got the chance!

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Originally Posted by crappiecrazy

Steve,
I enjoyed this post. Nice change of tactics, fish, and scenery. Keep them coming! I checked out your website and would like to go fishin with you someday if I ever got the chance!

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It is a lot of fun and you'd enjoy it. It would be something you'd like to do if you get down this way!