IMMOKEALEE, FL. -- Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will stock approximately 50,000 Florida largemouth bass fingerlings in Lake Trafford, the largest lake south of Lake Okeechobee, Wednesday and Thursday, March 9 and 10.
The fingerlings are from the Florida Bass Conservation Center in Richloam. New and enhanced technology in nutrition and disease control have resulted in these fish being approximately 4 inches long, as opposed to the previous standard of 1-1½ inches long. By stocking larger fish, the FWC hopes more will survive to harvestable size.
Over the past several years, the lake has been the focus of a multi-agency restoration project. The lake was dredged of millions of cubic yards of muck that had triggered algal blooms and fish kills.
Already, water clarity, native vegetation and the number of small fish have improved. Largemouth bass fingerlings stocked last year are growing well. Anglers seeking crappie are catching and releasing the bass.
"We are working to re-establish a self-sustaining, healthy fish population in the lake," said FWC freshwater fisheries administrator Barron Moody.
"We anticipate that our past and present stocking efforts will bring about the return of largemouth bass fishing to the lake."
To protect the fish from premature harvest, a special regulation on Lake Trafford prohibits the harvest of any largemouth bass shorter than 18 inches. Complete freshwater fishing regulations can be found online at MyFWC.com/Fishing.
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