John's Journal...
Entry 166,
Day 5
THE TIGER BASS AND THE GORILLA BASS
More on Gorilla Bass
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Barry Smith of Montgomery, Alabama, a longtime
fisheries biologist, co-owns American Sport Fish in Pike Road, Alabama,
one of the largest private hatcheries in the Southeast, with is partner
Don Keller. Smith and Keller have developed several breeds of fish that
landowners enjoy stocking in their ponds. This week we'll talk with Smith
about the giant, aggressive bass American Sport Fish stocks.
QUESTION: How large does the Gorilla Bass grow?
ANSWER: We don't really know that answer yet. We have Gorilla Bass that
have weighed more than 12-pounds each. Their growth rate is not much different
than the Florida strain of bass. But you can catch the Gorilla Bass much
more easily. The world's record bass caught on the Florida/Georgia border
weighed 22 pounds. But it wasn't a Florida bass -- it was a cross between
the Florida largemouth and the northern strain of bass. Nor was it the
same thing as an F1 Gorilla Bass, which we've developed over a 12-year
period by selectively breeding only the most-aggressive northerns with
Florida bass. Potentially, a F1 bass could carry enough genetic strain
to be at least a state record and even a world record. We've never seen
any Gorilla in the 18-pound-range yet, but I think the possibility is
there.
QUESTION:
What is the future of the Gorilla Bass?
ANSWER: We think it will continue to hold up and be more aggressive.
QUESTION: Are more small-pond owners stocking aggressive
bass like the Tiger and the Gorilla Bass?
ANSWER: Yes. A lot of people aren't interested in growing large bass that
they can't catch. And the great thing about these bass is that they are
so aggressive that you can catch them on bare gold hooks.
QUESTION: What do you recommend for stocking if the pond
owners are not trying to grow a world-record bass but want plenty of 4-
to 10-pound bass that will bite?
ANSWER: These F1 Gorillas will fit their needs. Pond owners can expect
the fish to grow fast and not be difficult to catch.
QUESTION:
Are you seeing more and more pond owners going away from the Florida strain
to either the Tiger strain or an F1 Gorilla Bass?
ANSWER: Yes, in fact many people probably would've made this choice before
if they could have.
QUESTION: What do you recommend as the stocking rate
for the Gorilla bass?
ANSWER: The stocking rate depends on the location of the pond. Our program
is not one size fits all. We make our decision based on the location of
the pond, the type of soil in the pond and what it will produce. If you
are near the coast, the ponds will not be as productive as ponds in a
river plain or in the Black Belt section of Alabama with its very-rich
soil. Our stocking rates vary from 50 bass per acre to 100 bass per acre,
depending on the location.
QUESTION: How much do these Gorillas Bass cost?
ANSWER: We sell 2-inch fingerlings for 60 cents each.
QUESTION:
What is the survival rate of Gorilla Bass?
ANSWER: Our studies state that you can expect an 80- to 90- percent survival
rate.
QUESTION: How can someone contact you for new, updated
information on studies American Sport Fish has done?
ANSWER: Our number is (334) 281-7703. We have a quarterly management publication
about studies we've conducted and studies we're working on throughout
the Southeast called "Southern Ponds and Wildlife." This magazine is an
excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn how to manage their ponds.
To get this magazine, call (800) 377-4880
QUESTION: How much does a subscription cost?
ANSWER: The subscription costs $28.00 a year for a magazine packed with
the latest information from across the Southeast.
For more information about American Sport Fish, write
P.O. Box 20050, Montgomery, AL 36120, or call (334) 281-7703.
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