Stocking a Pond

Introduction   |   Planning   |   Construction   |    Stocking

Hybrid Sunfish

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Managing Hybrid Sunfish in Mississippi Farm Ponds

Stocking hybrid sunfish offers some attractive management possibilities in small ponds, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions are critical to success of ponds stocked with hybrid sunfish, and pond owners will be disappointed unless they take proper consideration before stocking. Do not stock hybrids into ponds containing other fish, and never stock them in combination with other bream species. Always stock hybrids in combination with a predator fish since, contrary to popular belief, they are not sterile. Most hybrid populations are 85-95 percent males, and this results in lower reproductive potential. However, they still tend to overpopulate, and the offspring are not desirable. Therefore, stock hybrids in combination with either bass or catfish. When stocked with bass, hybrid offspring do not survive, since the predacious bass quickly consume all of them. This prevents overpopulation and provides conditions for optimum growth of the originally stocked hybrids. Hybrids are best suited to ponds of 3 acres or less.

The most commonly used hybrids result from crossing male bluegills with female green sunfish. These hybrids are usually 95 percent males and are highly vulnerable to fishing. They readily accept artificial feed and grow faster than bluegills or redear sunfish under similar conditions. Maximum growth can be attained by stocking 750 hybrids and 50 bass per acre and then following a good fertilization and supplemental feeding program.

It is important to remember that hybrid sunfish management is for production of trophy bream, and bass growth will be less than desirable. Bass are stocked primarily as a management tool to keep hybrid reproduction down and to influence growth of hybrids favorably. Additionally, this is a "put and take" fishery, meaning that hybrids are grown, caught, and replaced by other hybrids stocked in subsequent years. In this sense, hybrid ponds can be likened more easily to cattle feed-lot operations than some other, more traditional pond management scenarios.

In many ways, management of hybrids is similar to management of most other species. They must be stocked into appropriate conditions, provided ample space, cover, and food, and protected until they reach desirable sizes. Hybrid management is specialized, however, in that protection of these fish is absolutely essential, since they can be easily fished out. Additionally, hybrid populations, unlike bluegill populations, are not self-perpetuating. The second generation is not desirable, and we manage the population to prevent that generation from occurring.

Periodic restocking is necessary to sustain a fishery for more than a few years. Pond owners should keep records of the number of hybrids removed and plan to restock when 50 to 70 percent of the originally stocked fish have been caught and removed. This is one more reason security from poachers is paramount. At restocking time, larger fingerlings (3 to 4 inches) are preferred, since they are less vulnerable to predation than smaller fish. They will, however, cost more, and pond owners may prefer to compensate by stocking higher rates of smaller (and cheaper) fingerlings. Restock at the same rates as the initial stocking.

Growth of hybrids can be maximized by taking three steps:

1. Stock with largemouth bass.
2. Conduct a good fertilization program.
3. Feed supplementally

A feeding program can be established using floating catfish pellets. A handy guide is to feed all the feed the fish will consume in 15 to 20 minutes and adjust the amount as fish grow. If fish do not eat all the feed offered in that time period, you are probably overfeeding and wasting feed and money. A demand-type or automatic fish feeder is a good investment. One problem with hand-feeding is that someone has to be there to do it! Research shows that most people tire of the novelty of feeding fish within the first season, and then the fish may become neglected. Installing a feeder ensures that the fish receive feed on a regular basis, regardless of the pond owner's schedule and availability.

Specific Fish Stocking Information

• Bass and Bream
• Catfish
• Hybrid Sunfish