Buttikoferi Cichlid(zebra tilapia)

[meandovii]

I have live at my house and fishing in the same lake for years. In the last 2 mounths Buttikoferi Cichlids starter popping up.There has always been a steady mayan cichlid population befor that but now the the one time great bass population seems to have been killed off by two aggresive cichlids. Its easy to understand how mayans got here there central american cichlids. but how did the west african Buttikoferi Cichlid make its home in my lake.

 

[jworth]

Looks good size too. They got there by being released just like the mayans. Tilapia are good eating as are mayans. I would remove them from the lake and toss them in the skillet! What lake is this?

 

[Steelingheads]

Yup...Just like with the Mayans, some genius thought he was doing the fish a favor....So much for the native bass.....

 

[warmouth]

yes its really sad.....theyre edging out natives like the tasty Florida Bluegill and pretty Bluespotteds because both parents guard the young (cichlids) and many tilapia are mouth brooders. Best thing you can do is catch and release on the natives......and catch and eat on the invasives.

 

[NCStateFisher]

nomnomnom time to eat some cichlids - report back if they're good eats lol

 

[jworth]

i wouldnt panic though, the invasives havent been as detrimental as they predicted to the native population and have become a sport and food source throughout south florida. still curious where this monster tilapia was caught though.

 

[tunerX]

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=481

 

[skillzizzo]

agreed. I ketch and release as much as i can any ways. Unless the fish isnt going to make it. BUt if you ketch something that isnt supposed to be there deffenetly dont put it back

 

[jizzman85]

amazing

 

[HKN]

i see them...huge ones...in ft lauderdale alot...