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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.

 

 

Check back each day this week for more THE TIGER BASS AND THE GORILLA BASS ...

Day 1 - The Birth of the Super Bass
Day 2 - The Texas Study
Day 3 - New Life in an Old Pond
Day 4 - What to Feed a Gorilla
Day 5 - More on Gorilla Bass


John's Journal