Southeast Pond Stocking: Aquaculture - Fountains

For stocking a gamefish pond we recommend stocking a combination of Bluegill/ Shellcracker, Largemouth bass, and Channel Catfish. These can be stocked at the following rates:

Fish	Number Per Acre
Fish	Unfertilized or Unfed	Fertilized or Fed
Bluegill	350	700
Shellcracker	150	300
Largemouth Bass	50	100
Channel Catfish	75	200
Fathead Minnows	5lbs	10lbs
Grass Carp	10-20 per acre

Other fish that maybe stocked include sterile grass carp, hybrid bluegill, hybrid striped bass, Crappie, and fathead minnows. All are fish available from Southeast Pond Stocking, LLC. and are feed trained. Fish can be purchased at different sizes depending on availability or the time of year.


The Bluegill is well known for its rounded body, small head and mouth, and its dark spot on its operculum (cheek). It has broad, dark vertical bands running through different hues of black, blue, green, and copper. It feeds primarily on small insects and worms. These fish are prolific spawners and should be stocked in conjunction with largemouth bass to control their population.	The Hybrid Bluegill is a cross between a bluegill and green sunfish. The resulting offspring resembles a bluegill but has a large mouth and a more spotted pattern. The cross between this two fish produces offspring almost 90% male. This results in low reproduction and a fast growth rate. There is one problem however, the reproduction that has occurred produces more fish that can reproduce and the good characteristics of a hybrid may be lost over 3-5years. We only recommend these to people with ponds under 3 acres that can be drained to allow for reclamation and restocking.

The Shellcracker is very similar to the bluegill. The operculum on the Shellcracker is dark with a reddish orange border. Shellcracker tend to grow larger than bluegill, but can be more difficult to catch. They are a bottom water fish that eats snails, and insects.	The Black Crappie is easily confused with the white crappie. However, it is deeper bodied than the white crappie, and silvery-green in color. There are no distinct vertical bars, rather there are irregular black blotches. Black crappie feed on mainly insects and crustaceans, and fewer fish than do white crappie. Unlike white crappie they are not prolific spawners and will not take over most over 3 acres.

Hybrid Striped Bass are stocked in many areas because of their quick growth and good survival characteristics. They seldom produce viable offspring, so populations must be maintained by restocking. Striped bass feed on just about anything alive that is available. Young striped bass eat micro crustaceans, or zooplankton, and midge larvae. As they grow, their diet changes to large crustaceans, mollusks and other fish. As adults, striped bass live in roving schools, feeding mostly at night. When chasing forage fish near the surface, the splashing and slashing make a spectacular display.	Sterilized Grass Carp or White Amur are used in controlling aquatic weeds. They can be stocked at a rate of 10-20 per acre depending on the type of weed present in the pond and the desired level of control. These fish grow rapidly and have an effective life of 5-7 years.

The Channel Catfish is well know for its chin whiskers, scaleless body, and barbed spines on its dorsal and pectoral fins. Channel catfish eat insects, small fish, and crayfish, but at times will eat just about anything.	The Fathead Minnow can be added to a pond to improve the forage base. They are a natural fish food and can improve the growth rate of species such as largemouth bass. Their small size and prolific reproduction make them one of the best minnows used for this purpose.

The Largemouth Bass is well known for its large mouth and dark stripes on its sides. It is the pond predator. Bass eat other fish, large insects, frogs, and crayfish. Our bass have been trained to eat pelleted feed to increase growth rate, but will readily return to natural feed if pellets are not offered. Although growth rate varies most bass will reach harvestable size in two years.	Tilapia are now available for algae and duckweed control. This fish is an African cichlid with a voracious appetite and prolific breeding habits. They can be stocked, with permission from Wildlife Resources Commission, at a rate of 350-400 per acre to control these problems. The disadvantage is that they will die when the water temperature drops in the fall and will need to be restocked every year. Ask for further details.

The Mosquito Fish is now available for biological control of mosquito larvae.	Koi are colorful members of the carp family. They resemble goldfish except that they have two pairs of barbels (feelers) at the corners of their mouth. They are highly variable in color, often with irregular blotchings of black, red, gold, orange or pearly white. Koi carp are long-lived fish and grow to about 75 cm in length. Koi carp are opportunistic feeder, eating insects, spawn, juvenile fish of other species and diverse range of plants and organic matter.