Otters affect on Bass .

[fin]

Here’s an otter I walked up on a few years ago eating a grass carp that was probably in the 10 pound range. They obviously don’t mind eating large fish.

 

The lake I fish in is around 200 acres, and the otters come through every few months and stay for a week or so and then move on. They are not leaving because there are no fish left to eat. The same is true in the creek where this picture was taken, except they hang around in the creek longer.  I think it’s easier for them to corner fish in the creek, which is way smaller than the lake. I’m sure it’s easier for them to catch carp instead of bass too. Carp are pretty stupid.

 

I don’t know if you ever mentioned the size of your lake, but if the lake is too small and the fish have no where to hide from the otters, then I guess they could do some damage. Maybe you could provide them with some cover? Stock some carp? Also don’t discount the possibility that some human is doing the damage.

 

[MGF]

31 minutes ago, fin said:

 I’m sure it’s easier for them to catch carp instead of bass too. Carp are pretty stupid.

 

  Stock some carp?  

 

 

As a long time scuba diver I don't know how "smart" carp are but a diver almost never gets close to them. It's kind of rare to even get close enough to see them. They hear/feel you coming and get gone. The one exception would be ponds or springs where they have divers and swimmers gawking at them all the time.

 

By contrast it's no problem getting close to bass. I've had bass guarding fry get right up in my face and challenge me. I've had bass swim with me on a night dive and use my light to hunt. I've seen them caught during underwater fishing tournaments...that's where you tie a lure to a piece of line, hold it in your hand and swim up to a fish and dangle it in front of their nose. You think they're smart?

Underwater fishing...

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/underwater-fishing-bass-video/

 

Bass would be incredibly easy for an otter to catch.

 

I think it would be illegal to stock carp in most public waters. I think it's even illegal in many places to turn them back after you catch them.

[fin]

18 minutes ago, MGF said:

I think it would be illegal to stock carp in most public waters. I think it's even illegal in many places to turn them back after you catch them.

 

I’m talking about sterile grass carp. I’ve had them literally inches from me, eating grass at my feet fishing on the bank, many times. They don't seem to fear anything, they are much less skittish than bass.

[MGF]

2 minutes ago, fin said:

 

I’m talking about sterile grass carp. I’ve had them literally inches from me, eating grass at my feet fishing on the bank, many times. They don't seem to fear anything, they are much less skittish than bass.

I still doubt that it would be legal but I don't know.

 

Is my las post really purple? I don't know how that happened. LOL

[fin]

16 minutes ago, MGF said:

I still doubt that it would be legal but I don't know.

Legal in Florida, where I assume @N Florida Mike is.

 

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/invasive-plants/grass-carp/

[N Florida Mike]

Thanks for the replies. I already stocked carp in my lake. They are the state- allowed triploid grass carp. You must get a permit to stock them and they must be confined to the water body they are stocked in. They are largely near the surface and you can get fairly close to them in a jonboat. But they go crazy when they realize you’re there.

I have a lot of eel grass but other than that not much cover.. 

As far as other people keeping the fish , it is very doubtful. I personally know a lot of the residents ( theres 83 houses all the way around the lake ) . Im also the lake association director, so I have more contact that way too. The basic discussion I have with them is they ask “ Is there any fish in the lake ? Then they want to know what kind. Right there I know they have no clue about bass , much less how to catch them. One guy even asked me if it was fresh or saltwater ?.  Im on the lake a lot. I almost never see anyone fishing in a boat or the bank. The ones that do dont seem very good at it, unless they’re pretending to be novices by using push button reels with corks , swivels , and a big hook with a lone earthworm hooked 10 times.

Some people would say the answer to the mystery is the big fish have seen your go -to baits too much. I agree - thats why me and my 2 friends I let fish there use a wide variety of baits and presentations.

I even caught shiners and threw them out several times with no result. Did catch one fairly recently that was pushing 4 on a small bream...

[fin]

51 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Thanks for the replies. I already stocked carp in my lake. They are the state- allowed triploid grass carp. You must get a permit to stock them and they must be confined to the water body they are stocked in. They are largely near the surface and you can get fairly close to them in a jonboat. But they go crazy when they realize you’re there.

I have a lot of eel grass but other than that not much cover.. 

As far as other people keeping the fish , it is very doubtful. I personally know a lot of the residents ( theres 83 houses all the way around the lake ) . Im also the lake association director, so I have more contact that way too. The basic discussion I have with them is they ask “ Is there any fish in the lake ? Then they want to know what kind. Right there I know they have no clue about bass , much less how to catch them. One guy even asked me if it was fresh or saltwater ?.  Im on the lake a lot. I almost never see anyone fishing in a boat or the bank. The ones that do dont seem very good at it, unless they’re pretending to be novices by using push button reels with corks , swivels , and a big hook with a lone earthworm hooked 10 times.

Some people would say the answer to the mystery is the big fish have seen your go -to baits too much. I agree - thats why me and my 2 friends I let fish there use a wide variety of baits and presentations.

I even caught shiners and threw them out several times with no result. Did catch one fairly recently that was pushing 4 on a small bream...

Well, you're very lucky if you don't have anybody trying to take out as many fish as possible, especially this past year. Count your blessings.

 

Does the state offer any kind of program where they might come out and do a fish count?

[N Florida Mike]

That’s a good idea. I know they do  Electro shocking on selected lakes. It’s doubtful they’d be interested in mine but it’s worth  looking into !

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

That’s a good idea. I know they do  Electro shocking on selected lakes. It’s doubtful they’d be interested in mine but it’s worth  looking into !

Private sector will do it for a hefty fee. Make the HOA pay for it !

[N Florida Mike]

11 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Private sector will do it for a hefty fee. Make the HOA pay for it !

Shoot. We can just barely afford keeping the weeds under control. If everyone on the lake would pay their dues we might be able to afford it.

[livin2fish]

10 hours ago, fin said:

Here’s an otter I walked up on a few years ago eating a grass carp that was probably in the 10 pound range. They obviously don’t mind eating large fish.

After seeing the picture of the otter feeding on the fish I don't think they are so cute.  Those are some teeth!

[TnRiver46]

@fin certainly captured some great photos! 

[soflabasser]

11 hours ago, MGF said:

As a long time scuba diver I don't know how "smart" carp are but a diver almost never gets close to them. It's kind of rare to even get close enough to see them. They hear/feel you coming and get gone. The one exception would be ponds or springs where they have divers and swimmers gawking at them all the time.

I have gotten less than 3 feet from carp while freediving in lakes. Maybe the carp in your area do not like the bubbles that come from you Scuba diving.

11 hours ago, MGF said:

Bass would be incredibly easy for an otter to catch.

A otter will eat any fish it is able to catch and this includes bass. 

1 hour ago, livin2fish said:

After seeing the picture of the otter feeding on the fish I don't think they are so cute.  Those are some teeth!

Otters are in the Mustelidae family which includes wolverines, badgers, and others.  All of them are very tough animals.

[Sphynx]

I'm positive that otters predate bass, with the exception of areas featuring gators I am pretty sure otters are either apex predators or not far off it, the big question to me is more about what effect they have on bass populations, I have not done the research but I expect it isn't that big a deal, bass are unbelievably well adapted to survive in so many diverse environments that they consistently make top marks on invasive species lists, they are a very, very effective example of evolution, and hard to get rid of, it's one of the reasons they are so popular as a game fish, I also doubt the otters are getting any really big bass as long as that big fishis healthy, those fish are elusive, crazy elusive, and it would seem reasonable to me that an otter would find much better rates of success grabbing a bunch of buck bass who haven't figured otters out yet than chasing after a wary old lunker who's been playing the game for years successfully, it's probably a lot like the argument that the salmon and trout guys make, sure bass munch the odd trout if it can get the chance, bet they'd gulp an otter that was appropriately sized too, but I overall expect that they coexist pretty well all told.

[MGF]

3 hours ago, soflabasser said:

I have gotten less than 3 feet from carp while freediving in lakes. Maybe the carp in your area do not like the bubbles that come from you Scuba diving.

 

I dived all over the place from Florida to the great lakes and most fish react similar to the bass in the video I linked but, as a rule, not carp. That observation doesn't mean that nobody ever got close to a carp and it doesn't explain why the carp apparently react differently. It might be the bubbles. I never did much free diving.

[TnRiver46]

15 hours ago, soflabasser said:

I have gotten less than 3 feet from carp while freediving in lakes. Maybe the carp in your area do not like the bubbles that come from you Scuba diving.

A otter will eat any fish it is able to catch and this includes bass. 

Otters are in the Mustelidae family which includes wolverines, badgers, and others.  All of them are very tough animals.

Skunks and weasels are also in the mustelidae family. They all stink but skunks still a tad worse!!!