Friday, June 28, 2024
Acosta
HOOD OUTDOORS
As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.
Comanche Creek (Reservoir), formerly named Squaw Creek Reservoir, is a power plant lake where the tilapia flourish in Hood County. These fish are a non-native species that have been taking over some freshwater lakes and rivers in Texas, including Comanche Creek.
TPWD has labeled tilapia as invasive because they are having a detrimental impact on native fish such as catfish and largemouth bass. There is no limit on these tasty species, so take all you want.
It is illegal to release tilapia back into the lakes, adding that a game warden would likely give an angler a ticket if caught. In Texas, tilapia should be gutted almost immediately because it is unlawful to transport or possess a live fish.
Tilapia are typically stocked in local ponds/tanks for algae or vegetation control in the spring and will usually perish when winter arrives. These are tropical fish and do not survive when water temperatures fall to 50 degrees and below. The probable cause of tilapia getting into Comanche Creek is due to runoff from these tanks/ponds after heavy rains in the summer. Once they are in the power plant lake that stays warm year around, they flourish.
Tilapia are a member of the Cichlid family and are native to tropical regions of the globe. Due to the benefits they provide, they have been widely introduced in areas outside of their natural range. Aside from being excellent table fare, they also have an appetite themselves for noxious aquatic growth. As a result, they can be used to help control problematic duckweed and various types of algae in private bodies of water throughout Texas. Tilapia are also commonly stocked as forage to promote optimum growth in largemouth bass.
Tilapia are an exotic species and therefore regulated by state fish and wildlife agencies. In Texas, four species are legal to transport and stock into private water. These include the blue, Nile, Mozambique, and Wami. Mozambique and Nile species are the most readily available here in north Texas.
Tilapia reproduce rapidly throughout the summer. They are a “mouthbrooding” species; this means the female holds the eggs in her mouth until they hatch. This increases their likelihood of survival. Once the female expels the fry, they immediately begin to feed on phytoplankton and single-cell algae. Newly hatched tilapia will grow rapidly in highly fertile waters. As they continue to grow, they gradually shift their diet to vegetation and filamentous algae. They rarely compete with native fish species for available food.
As mentioned earlier, tilapia will die once water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They become sluggish as the water begins to cool in the fall, making them an easy target for hungry bass trying to fatten up in preparation for winter.
Tilapia can be caught a variety of ways as they eat almost anything. I have heard people using range cubes, dough, worms etc. Since they are not considered a game fish, they can be caught using a cast net. Many anglers catch them with worms fished under a cork. Others like to use a bow and arrow on the bigger ones. Regardless, they make great table fare.
HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT
Lake Granbury water temps are slowly falling into the lower 70s. Top water action for largemouth bass is good early and late. Soft plastics and crankbaits will also put largemouth bass in the boat. Crappie fishing continues to be excellent on small jigs and minnows fished on structure mid-lake. White bass (sandies) and small striped bass are fair on slabs mid-lake on humps and ridges (look for schooling fish early). Keeper striped bass are best early on live shad fished on underwater points/ridges on the lower ends. Catfish continue to be good to excellent on cut bait or prepared baits on most every part of the lake.
OTHER AREAS
Comanche Creek largemouth bass fishing continues to be excellent on most every presentation from drop shot rigs, live minnows, Texas rigged worms, crankbaits, etc. It is possible to boat up to 50 to 70 fish a day. Channel catfish limits are good on prepared baits and cut bait. Tilapia are abundant and are excellent on a variety of baits including worms fished under a cork.
michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855
