| Specimen ID | 324136 |
| Group | Fishes |
| Genus | Oreochromis |
| Species | niloticus |
| Common Name | Nile Tilapia |
| State | MS |
| County | Jackson |
| Locality | Black Creek Cooling Pond |
| Mapping Accuracy | Accurate |
| HUC8 Name | Escatawpa |
| HUC8 Number | 03170008 |
| HUC10 Name | Black Creek-Escatawpa River |
| HUC10 Number | 0317000807 |
| HUC12 Name | Black Creek Cooling Pond-Black Creek |
| HUC12 Number | 031700080704 |
| Map | |
| Collection Day | 27 |
| Collection Month | 2 |
| Collection Year | 2013 |
| Year Accuracy | Actual |
| Potential Pathway | stocked illegally |
| Status | established |
| Comments | "I am sure that I am not telling you anything that you do not already know. However, if you haven't checked in a while, suffice it to say that the Black Creek Cooling Pond has absolutely been taken over with Tilapia. In the fall there is a run by the fish and people sit on the bridges on Big Point road virtually shoulder to shoulder with chairs and catch them as fast as they can put their bait in the water filling large coolers. You can also catch them in the Spring when they are bedding on the banks. They are easy to see from the road. Many turn mostly white with pink highlights, others look more like the standard colors but still lighter than the type on grocery stores. They can be seen circling repeatedly, probably protecting their beds. Once it warms up, you can see their minnows under the bridges by the countless hundreds of thousands. I'm not exaggerating. At certain times you can see large school of them under the bridges, maybe in late spring, post spawn, though they will not bite. I have caught many during the Spring and some can get quite large. Four to five pounds is not rare. I visit the location sometimes weekly or more and speak to the fishermen there all the time. Some claim to have caught Tilapia exceeding nine pounds or more. One claimed to have caught one exceeding 15 pounds. I highly doubt it. Regardless, they have completely and irrevocably taken over this lake..." |
| Record Type | Personal communication |
| Freshwater/Marine | Freshwater |
