CA backyard pond stocking

[Fishe]

Hi,

I live in Cali, and I just wanted to know if it is ok to put musky or pike in my backyard pond via purchasing it online? I know they aren't native fish and it is illegal to release them into public ponds/lakes, but is it legal to keep them on MY property?  Thank you.

[Teal]

Call your local wildlife biologist.  I personally wouldn't put them in there.  Your pond probably isnt big enough to give them what they need for food, and if you put them in there, you can kiss all of your other fish good bye.  

[Fishe]

Thats true they are very vicious. Thanks for the insight.

[Glenn]

Nope, not legal. Ponds are connected by streams, and therefore there's the potential for them to escape - particularly their fry.

 

[Fishe]

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

Nope, not legal. Ponds are connected by streams, and therefore there's the potential for them to escape - particularly their fry.

 

Thank you for shedding some light on that. I know now that it ain't worth risking.

Thanks again.

[BASS302]

@Fishe,

California has strict rules governing plants and animals.  Please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  You need an approved permit for any private stocking.

Please don't assume that someone on a forum knows what is legal in your state.

[soflabasser]

It would be best to find other fish to put in your pond. Muskie and pike grow large and will require a large amount of food to keep healthy. The water temperature might get too warm in the Summer which is not good for these northern fish. 

[Hammer 4]

Just fyi, any game fish Cannot be transported here in Cali w/o a permit. It is also illegal to buy or sell any Game fish, that include blue gill and trout, ect.

 

[Fishe]

On 12/21/2020 at 11:45 PM, Hammer 4 said:

Just fyi, any game fish Cannot be transported here in Cali w/o a permit. It is also illegal to buy or sell any Game fish, that include blue gill and trout, ect.

 

Thanks for the heads up

On 12/20/2020 at 3:28 PM, BASS302 said:

@Fishe,

California has strict rules governing plants and animals.  Please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  You need an approved permit for any private stocking.

Please don't assume that someone on a forum knows what is legal in your state.

I appreciate the help thanks!

On 12/21/2020 at 5:38 PM, soflabasser said:

It would be best to find other fish to put in your pond. Muskie and pike grow large and will require a large amount of food to keep healthy. The water temperature might get too warm in the Summer which is not good for these northern fish. 

Never knew that, thank you!

[jaimeastin]

I know far too many ponds in Arkansas where people have put gar, pike, pickerel and other fish in and they just kill the other fish... Now on the other hand... I have a pond that i fish that is a pretty good size.  I have caught large bass out of it as well as panfish, pike, and other fish... So it just all depends on size and sustainability.

 

Here in CA...  I would not do it... There are "pike" in the state that people have brought in, but if they get out they might do a kill off to get rid of them.  I believe if you catch on in CA, you are supposed to kill it and report it to fish and wildlife.  

 

Outside of not being native, they are fun to catch ... We just have to go out of state to do so.

[roadwarrior]

On 1/5/2021 at 3:51 PM, jaimeastin said:

I know far too many ponds in Arkansas where people have put gar, pike, pickerel and other fish in

 I think someone was pulling your leg when they told you this. Nobody puts gar in a pond,

we don't have pike and pickerel are VERY rare (I have only seen two in 25 years).

[jaimeastin]

On 1/9/2021 at 9:18 AM, roadwarrior said:

 I think someone was pulling your leg when they told you this. Nobody puts gar in a pond,

we don't have pike and pickerel are VERY rare (I have only seen two in 25 years).

 

I lived in Arkansas and still go back to hunt and fish.  I have caught both in ponds.  Word to me was that someone put them in there.  One had a creek to it.  I fish in southern Arkansas mostly. EVERYthing is those waters.  I will post a picture of a fish i caught in a pond... I contacted Fish and Game and they said it was an oscar that maybe someone released from an aquarium... They think.  

 

I personally like to fish for gar, bowfin, and other predators when I there... So when I was told this, I went fishing in those places.  Some people like to eat gar... its like chicken. Bowfin is absolutely delicious if you know how to process it.  My wife wants me to bring it back to CA whenever I go back.  Some places may have been fed from floods in the past as well... Just never know... I just know i have caught them in places that they "should" not be.

[NorcalBassin]

Definite no no in CA (illegal) due at least in part to the risk of them getting into the river systems and further decimating the wild salmon and steelhead runs. Someone put pike in Davis Lake in the northern part of CA (great trout fishery) many years ago and Fish & Game poisoned what they thought was everything in the lake in the late 90's, restocked, found a few pike again a couple years later, and chemically killed the whole lake in 2007. Pretty much killed that small mountain community's economy for quite a few years and I'm guessing the next person that intentionally or unintentionally releases pike into a CA body of water will have a very expensive legal battle on their hands. Not worth it.