Tilapia and Florida largemouths

[onlyculprits]

Three years ago I stocked a barren little commercial parking drainage pond with 8 largemouths. Last week my grandson and I went there to see how they fared. Not only had they grown but had reproduced as well. We caught two of what I assume are the original broodstock - a female about 3 pounds and a male about a pound and a half. We also caught 6 smaller fish in the 8 to 12 inch range. The source of bass forage in this approx. 3000 sf pond turns out to be a dense population of blue tilapia. These fish are vegetarian and seem to be a near perfect neighbor and source of food for bass, at least here in Florida. This is the first time I've personally seen this particular eco-balance. Anyone else seen these two qualiity fish isolated in one particular waterway??? We caught a few of the tilapia with bread and the wife cooked them up. Outstanding.