invasive fish species in flordia

[microman]

there are red pirrahna,pacu, snake head, walking catfish, Asian carp, and many other weird and foreign fish destroying Florida. how do you guys stop this?( i wrote this after catfish walked across my gramps front yard, FREE FOOD!)

[etommy28]

I dont believe we have asain carp, but unless its a oscar, I typically destroy it.

[Eternal Angler]

DNR is still trying to find out, really nothing they can do but let nature take its course

[SirSnookalot]

I don't know what an Asian carp is but I do know what a grass carp is and it's not a carp at all, it's a white amur which is the worlds largest minnow from China.  They are everywhere here in S. Florida.

People catch them on bread or berries dropped from trees.

[Thai]

The golden mahseer is also in the Cyprininae family and is bigger than the white amur at 9' and over 118#

[Krzkev]

The invasive species in Florida are numerous.  The Myan Chiclid is probably the worst of the all.  This fish breeds a few time a year grows very fast and eats everything a bass eats, and also protects its young for a period of time after birth.  The only good thing is that another introduced species the Peacock bass is here to help clean up the myan and spotted tilapia overages.  The only problem is the weather, this unusually cold weather could kill allot of P B counties Peacock population.  I believe their tolerance to cold temps is around 58-60 degrees F.  Hopefully they will be OK.

[0119]

I have a love/hate thing going with the Mayan Cichlad.  In summer its hard to catch anything but them and this year they ran huge pushing 3lbs.  I feel they fight better than a comparable sized bass.   Its a shame the tarpon and snook dont seem to be putting a dent in their population.

[Thai]

I have a love/hate thing going with the Mayan Cichlad. In summer its hard to catch anything but them and this year they ran huge pushing 3lbs. I feel they fight better than a comparable sized bass. Its a shame the tarpon and snook dont seem to be putting a dent in their population.

Do you guys eat them down there? Cichlid taste pretty darn good

[Krzkev]

They are very good to eat, you just have to be very selective where you eat fish from Florida's waterways or lakes systems.  Most of Florida's water is primarily runoff from somewhere.  Down south here there is also very high mercury content in the warm waters, so too much fish and mercury poisoning it is for you.  So the grocery store is best place for fresh fish here in Florida or the ocean if you can get out there. 

[0119]

True about the mercury.  Too many golf courses using fertilizer and pesticide.   I have at least 12 courses in my town alone.  Its CPR for all fish, too many yankees keep everything.  If somebody didnt release them there would be nothing left!

[Thai]

True about the mercury. Too many golf courses using fertilizer and pesticide. I have at least 12 courses in my town alone. Its CPR for all fish, too many yankees keep everything. If somebody didnt release them there would be nothing left!

I wasnt aware of the high levels of mercury down there, here we have the same thing, the potomac is alot cleaner than it used to be but we still have a long way to go. Its recommended that you dont exceed one portion per month and a portion is usually 4 ounces.

I was also referring to the non natives, not a thing wrong with taking those...well except the mercury poisoning thing  ;D

[bocabasser]

I have a love/hate thing going with the Mayan Cichlad. In summer its hard to catch anything but them and this year they ran huge pushing 3lbs. I feel they fight better than a comparable sized bass. Its a shame the tarpon and snook dont seem to be putting a dent in their population.

Do you guys eat them down there? Cichlid taste pretty darn good

i catch them for the ladies in my cafeteria. they love 'em! they call them strawberry dacqeries (sp). they are also an amazing snook bait!. there is a spillway in lake worth that holds MONSTER snook that will gobble up those cichlids. give it a try---you won't be disappointed.