Fishing planet redear sunfish california1/31/2024 ![]() ![]() Two dozen Texas impoundments are now considered to be “infested” with zebras, including two in East Texas - Richland Chambers and Livingston. ![]() Zebra mussels - a cousin to the quagga - were first discovered in Lake Texoma in 2009 and have since proliferated in a host of other Texas lakes. Plus, as a result of habitat selection, redears aren’t likely to encounter predators in Lake Havasu that will prey on them once they reach a certain size.” ![]() But I believe it also has to do with the extended growing season allowed by the warm climate, habitat availability and a variety of other resources. It’s definitely possible, or even highly likely that the quagga mussels are contributing the growth of those fish. “I think there are a number of factors that play in that lake. “It could be that the quaggas are part of a perfect storm out there,” Hardymon said. The quaggas are the reason.”įisheries biologist Ty Hardymon with the Arizona Game and Fish Department says he believes it entirely possible that quagga mussels may be contributing to the trophy fish explosion at Havasu, but he doesn’t think the invasive mollusks deserve all the credit. Going from a three-pound lake record to a 6.3-pounder with three world records in a short time is no coincidence. “The lake record was a three-pounder when the quaggas first showed up in 2007, and it’s gotten bigger ever since. “In my opinion the mussels have had everything to do with it,” he said. Think of it like a buffet of energy where the fish are able to dine at will. Galbraith claims it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to connect the dots between the arrival of quaggas and Havasu’s parade of world-class lunker redears. Over the last decade he’s watched Havasu transition from an outstanding redear fishery to one that is producing fish of colossal proportions on a regular basis. Galbraith has owned his shop for nearly 20 years. Also known as “shellcrackers,” redear are gifted with pharyngeal teeth in their throats that help the panfish crush the mussel’s hard shells to get at the meaty goodies inside. The belief is the quaggas are providing an abundant, high protein food source to compliment other forage like redswamp crawfish and grass shrimp. ![]()
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