Peacock bass stocked in Texas? Pike too?

Did you know there have been peacock bass stocked in Texas?

Pike too?

In the past TPWD has stocked some species that (unfortunately) did not take off and below are list of some of those stockings. Texas has a citing-edge fish stocking program both on the inland and saltwater side and while the focus now is on indigenous species (other than stripers) in the past dreams of enhancing Texas fishing with exotics was on the table.

Here is a list of species, year and location showing our states has a truly unique fisheries history and stocking program.

*Tarpon (34 total stocked in Braunig Lake 1984-85)

*Walleye (In 2016 alone more than 3,244,428 walleye fry have been stocked in Fryer, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Reservoir. Another 1,331,375 were stocked in Palo Duro Reservoir, Theo at Caprock Canyon, Wheeler Branch and White Reservoir in 2015. Look for a story on the walleye stocking program in an upcoming Texas Outdoor Nation news.)

*Tiger Musky (Hybrid Northern Pike and Muskellunge) These toothy fish were stocked in 1976-77 in Copper Breaks State Park, Leon, Meridian State Park, Mill Creek Lake, Alcoa, Nocona and Raven)

*Muskellunge (Musky) There was a total of 2,785 stocked in Amsted, Copper Breaks State Park and Inks Lake

*Nile Perch (Between 1978-84 there were about 80,000 nile perch stocked between Braunig and Coleto Creek with the lion’s share going to Coleto Breek.

*Corvina (Around 750,000 orangemouth corvina were stocked in Braunig Lake between 1985-86. These Pacific Coast fish look like a giant speckled or sand trout)

*Peacock Bass (Between 1978-98 around 19,000 peacock bass were stocked in Bastrop, Coleto Creek, Tradinghouse and Alcoa)

Have you caught one of these fish in Texas in the past? If so, we would love to hear about it and would gladly publish any photo of anglers with these interesting and exotic species. Send you accounts and photos to cmoore@fishgame.com.

Chester Moore, Jr.