john welch 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2010 have been catching these monsters again here in new orleans Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FishyboY 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2010 WICKED!!! on what flies? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted May 18, 2010 Nice John! Finding them in City Park, Bayou St. John, Lafreniere, somewhere else? I caught a big one like that last month in Bayou St John but not one since; course I'm just fishing surface flies right now. Kirk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
john welch 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2010 i've bee using a dropper rig, size 12 foam bug with a size 16 bug(marabou tail, green ice dubbing with red wire ribbing. and yes in city park near the new softball park...been catching alot of hand sized bluegill and a few bass too. i hooked a little bream and, had to be a 4 pound bass, grabbed him, but spit em out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2010 John, I'm not familiar with this species...enlighten me, please. Beautiful fish....looks like a gill and a mutant tilapia spawned.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
john welch 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 they are an invasive species called rio grande cichlid or texas blue. they get about as big as bluegill, same haunts, size mouth. this is just a huge example of a breeder male.....the hump on his head was as big a golf ball. i saw one that size at a pet store selling for a hundred bucks! i can finally quit my job and fish for monet...ha ha. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2010 I was curious if it was a cichlid species...I would imagine they are great little fighters with boddies that broad and flat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perchjerker 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2010 Yes, it is a cichlid and the only cichlid species native to the US. It is a native in Texas where it is know as the Rio Grande Perch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyHub 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2010 Do they harbor much of a fight ....I suspect they might, much like large gills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirk Dietrich 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2010 Big Daddy, until you get them in the over 7-8 inch size, they just flop around. Not much of a fight at all. The larger one tug pretty good. Ounce for ounce, I think bluegill have them beat. As for taste, I think the Rios have a slight edge. As much as I love bluegill, the Rios are just as good and maybe even a tad bit tastier - not by much though. As for looks, they are beautiful with their turquoise spots. Kirk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fred H. 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2010 Those are beauties John. Nice to see they survived the freeze. The first ones I ever caught were last year in N.O. at the first annual Rio Grande tourn . Is your club going to hold that again ? Fred Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
