Feral fish invading the swan
Geopahagus Brasilliensis (Pearl Cichlid)
They seems to be invading the upper reaches of the swan river in plague proportions. I’ve been going up there for the last 3 years and it's always been that I've seen native species far more often. But I've recently gone up there and noticed an explosion of these cichlids. There are thousands and thousands up there ranging in sizes. What I saw was about 70% of these to 30% native fish. They're obviously thriving up there.
Fisheries are aware of the situation but said there is really no way to stop them. They said they can’t give up but at the same time can’t keep pumping money into what could be an already lost cause. The lady on the phone said she’s seen hundred in the pools at bells rapids and the water test they did shows up there is completely almost salt and even though these are tropical freshwater fish they can survive in water as low as 10 degrees. They are aggressive towards other fish and mature in the first year having around 150-200 offspring.
Its going to be interesting to see what the swans like in the next couple years if these guys keep going like they’re going..
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
Would have been someone
Would have been someone breaking down a fish tank and letting the fish go. You can't stop it, idiot are born every day. Say good by to the swan.
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
jighead
Posts: 718
Date Joined: 03/02/12
Sell them
To the petshops or aquarists.
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Pet shops
Pet shops won't touch them, they are a big problem and Bennet Springs is full of them. They are ilegal to sell or own as far as i'm aware .
Mr x
Posts: 182
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Feral
They are a huge problem in Bennett springs and the altone golf course they have entered the swan from Bennett brook in Guildford they are however legal to keep, sell and buy from fish shops. Perth has feral fish everywhere I have seen the pearl cichlids in another golf corse lake in the same lake silver and gold perch. Another lake was just emptied because it was full of tandanus catfish and there are two lakes that hold murry cod and u can find goldfish, koi and gambusia in just about every lake in perth.
Bruzoandnicko
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 02/07/12
Reckon there is any chance of
Reckon there is any chance of having a good fish in the alone golf course, would be interesting to see if U could go down there and flick a plakkie around or in the little lakes or Bennett springs.
Think it would be worth it?
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
How big do they grow?
How big do they grow?
channy
Posts: 242
Date Joined: 30/11/10
Around 30cm
Around 30cm
Geoff78
Posts: 324
Date Joined: 05/03/13
Maybe they could be an
Maybe they could be an alternative for bream anglers only without the release of course.
scano
Posts: 1246
Date Joined: 31/05/07
Another question
Are they edible?
i mean I am sure they are not about to knock Dhuies and snapper off the dinner menu but can you eat them?
channy
Posts: 242
Date Joined: 30/11/10
On an aquarium forum a guy
On an aquarium forum a guy caught one and ate it. He said it tasted better than bream haha
tombstone
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 14/10/10
where ya been Channy, been
where ya been Channy, been expecting more big breambo reports from ya, but now you show us these funny critters, bring back the 41,43cm blackies.
to fish or not to fish...as if there was an option.
channy
Posts: 242
Date Joined: 30/11/10
Ok challenge accepted haha
Ok challenge accepted haha
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Eating quality
Eating quality[edit]
Their eating quality is very good. Their flesh is white and sweet when cooked, and has very little oil, making it similar in taste to snapper or grouper. Also, they are not excessively bony. However, most professional American anglers recommend practicing catch and release for these species to protect their numbers in the United States. To help ensure this, Florida Wildlife and Game Commission officers strictly enforce bag limits for these fish.
tadpole
Posts: 387
Date Joined: 28/01/13
Fishwrecked.com Cichlid
Fishwrecked.com Cichlid Fishing Competition....
lame
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 20/01/10
wipe them out
fisheries need to electro fish them ;)
Shimka
Posts: 465
Date Joined: 06/02/14
Been in the river for years
Been in the river for years with the population steadily growing. The increased temps we've been having over the last few years will have them well & truly in the mood to breed. Technically they are a freshwater species but are found well into brackish water in their native South America. They can lay 250-350 eggs in a spawning session & can spawn up to 6 times a year. Get used to them, they are here to stay & will probably become the predominant species in the upper swan.
rocklobster
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 27/12/09
The next 'redfin' in WA . .
The next 'redfin' in WA . . . Could be an interesting future
caughtup
Posts: 360
Date Joined: 06/02/14
the swans gettin bombarded.
the swans gettin bombarded. wat a shame.
Sean66
Posts: 149
Date Joined: 18/09/11
Where abouts in the Swan are
Where abouts in the Swan are they? Baits or lures?
I'm here for a good time, not a long time. Lets go fishing!
crasny1
Posts: 6986
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Wouldnt have thought many
Wouldnt have thought many fish could survive the water of the Avon/upper Swan.
Floculates from all the farm fertiliser wash off etc. Does make for some classic foam in the Avon decent, but personally I wouldnt drink it.
Surprises me anything lives in Bells Pools as they stagnate over summer, and then get the winter flow.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
smicko
Posts: 135
Date Joined: 11/04/10
Went for wander up that way
Went for wander up that way today, three years ago the pool I fished was gin clear, now everywhere up there looks like choc milk. And the rubbish left around the place by dirty baitos was a friggen disgrace. Future of our iconic Swan ain't looking so rosy.
Fausto79
Posts: 40
Date Joined: 10/02/14
Sad
Really sad how some people just dont give a shvt. Don't mean to point finger and I know theres many good ones amongst them but seems to me since the mining boom a lot of people from over east and NZ with little to no education and making big bucks have been coming over and because it is not their backyard have little regard. they can afford big 4wd and just hoon around sand dunes and throw empty beer bottles around (seen this a few times at pipi and wilbinga).
then you also get the types from a certain south east region of a continent above us (which again theres probably good ones of them too) which ive seen many times fishing and they basically keep everything that comes out of the water, dont care what species, size, taste. they find a way to cook it.
i mean someone is obviously responsible from bringing these fish to the river and releasing them for whichever idiotic reason.
Give me a fish and I will eat for a day, teach me to fish and I will starve to death.
aajay
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 24/06/14
a native solution
maybe a coordinated effort to change fish stocking regulations and get some murray cod released into the upper avon/swan (like the late 1800s) to eat them all! Much better problem to have too any cod which are native Australian fish than something not from Australia!
fisho15
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 28/06/14
That's a
Good solution you have thought up there aajay wouldn't mine catching one of them in the river
fisho15
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 28/06/14
That's a
Good solution you have thought up there aajay wouldn't mine catching one of them in the river
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8044
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Maybe fisheries should
Maybe fisheries should charge you $40 to catch them and destroy them like I recently had to pay to catch reddies at Waroona...
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Poltergeist
Posts: 159
Date Joined: 03/12/13
Haa, yes you are right Jack
Haa, yes you are right Jack in that for what you get the WA freshwater fishing licence is a rip off. Look at Victoria, there licence costs only $24.50 per yr (cheaper if you buy for 3 yrs) and they get over 560 000 trout and salmon stocked each year plus over 2 million Cod and Golden Perch.