02-19-2003, 05:04 PM
Hi: Tilapia are a very hardy fish imported from Africa at first to clean up our water canal systems like the All American Canal and others off the Colorado River. They were supposed to eat the Hydra that clogged up the canals. They soon spread and become an actual nuisance. Presently they are thick in the brackish waters at the head of the San Gabriel River near the Power Plant outlets. In the spring and fall they can be seen swimming up river appearing like 100 yard balls of dust like clouds. There are virtually millions of them. Every Cormarant and Pelican in the country feeds on them. Yes, it really gets crowded on the river. They are really prolific, thus supporting a large commercial market. All the grocery stores have them in their fish cases. I assume the fish in Texas is the same as here in Long Beach. They reach about 8 inches in length and those guys that fish for them use worms for bait PS although illegal they are wonderful halibut bait.
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