Understanding competing species

[@docroyse]

I can see how a fish like that could out compete bass. They are huge. Nice kayak BTW

[@aquaticbiologist6516]

Crappie do the same thing in ponds. Lots of fish can take over, gizzard shad, Alabama bass, Asian carp- it’s a long list

[@docroyse]

@@aquaticbiologist6516 No doubt about that. I didn’t realize Tilapia were that big.

[@martyaustin6545]

Did those tilapia run the bass out of that area or the whole river for a long way? I love your videos and podcasts, I live on Pickwick and bass fishing has turned into Kentucky lake, a biologist told us at a meeting 5 years ago that this is going to happen in 5 years and damn he was right, cause it sux

[@aquaticbiologist6516]

They just take over by eating everything. They eat the plants which reduces recruitment, they eat the insects that the other baitfish need, and they eat the bass fry. With nothing to control them because they are not native. They simply just take over

[@Steve-em4tb]

Does the Florida Fish and Game have any plans to remove all the tilapia from the river? I've heard they're decent eating fish, much better than your supermarket tilapia for starters.

[@aquaticbiologist6516]

That’s not possible with the U.S. army much less the 100 biologists that have 8,000 bodies of water to manage

[@Steve-em4tb]

@@aquaticbiologist6516 Why not just let people fish for tilapia in that waterbody?

[@benwilkey2060]

Interesting example with that river! (That being said, you might get more views if you get rid of that ball shot on the thumbnail. 😂)

[@aquaticbiologist6516]

Good point. 🤣 Irhat was AI