Whether it be in your backyard or a county or state-run lake or pond, stocking the body of water is essential for the overall health of the small ecosystem contained within it.  Many Georgia residents have ponds on their property, and the state has ample public outdoor space with waters for locals and tourists to enjoy. A fish farm can come in handy balancing out the population of fish in its waters. Why is stocking fish so important.

What Is a Fish Farm

A fish farm is much like a farm that grows crops. Instead, they grow fish from hatchlings. There are fish farms that grow fish to be shipped off to local fish markets and distributors, but rather, we are talking about fish farms that grow various types of fish to increase the population of ponds and lakes. 

There are many fish farms in Georgia scattered across the state. They do more than grow fish. Fish farms are an excellent resource to learn about how to manage a lake or a pond properly. 

How Do You Know What Your Pond Needs

Knowing what your pond needs is difficult to answer without consulting a professional from a Georgia fish farm. Most fish farms have biologists on staff who can guide you in stocking a newly constructed lake or pond or a well-established one. Not only will they inform you as to what type of fish to introduce but also what size as they offer them ranges. 

What Type of Fish Should Be Stocked From A Fish Farm

Even the smallest backyard pond has a delicate ecosystem beneath its surface. Much like in the wild, predators and prey are all factors to the equation of a healthy pond that can grow large fish.

Beyond large fish needing small fish to avoid starvation, plant growth must also remain in check. While chemicals can help control the excessive growth of water weeds, the results are short-lived. Reapplication of chemicals can become an expensive endeavor. Rather than chemical control, a more long-term solution can be introducing plant-eating fish species. 

Redbreast Sunfish

These are a member of the sunfish family that grows to a maximum size of 12 inches. Red Breast sunfish is ideal for teaching young anglers how to fish.  When stocked, they are great to combine with bluegill.

Bluegill

One of the most critical components of a healthy lake is bluegill. Bluegill is a primary food source for bass to inturn grow them larger for angler’s enjoyment. In addition to feeding predators, bluegill are also tasty to the fisherman. 

Shellcracker

Shellcracker is also known as Redear. They are primarily utilized in larger lakes and are also best to combine with bluegill. 

Threadfin Shad

The threadfin shad is a forage fish to bass populations when bass stocking Ga ponds. They grow between one and seven inches in length and, when stocked, help alleviate predator fish from consuming nearly all of the bluegill population. Bait fish are a fundamental addition when fish stocking Ga to create a healthy balance.

Crappie

Crappie is another fish that is best utilized in large ponds. Bass forage on crappie, but they are also excellent table fare for the angler. 

Grass Carp

Have weed problems in your lake? Add grass carp. Grass carp consume large amounts of weeds that overtake ponds in Georgia to help keep overgrowth in check. 

Channel Catfish

These are neat-looking bottom-dwelling fish. Depending on the angler, channel catfish can be introduced or added if it is a preferable catch. 

Largemouth Bass

The trophy fish for most anglers is the largemouth bass which is why bass stocking Georgia is prevelant. Many of the fish listed above significantly influence the growth rate of bass within a pond. Another significant impact of bass is helping to control the population of smaller fish.  

How Do You Find A Fish Farm

Finding a fish farm in Georgia is simple. Search fish farm near me on your phone, computer, tablet. However, the fish farm does not necessarily have to be local. Most farms will deliver via specialized trucks long distances to stock pond. 

 How Expensive Is Fish Stocking From A Georgia Fish Farm

The cost of fish stocking Georgia can vary significantly. A freshly dug Georgia pond or lake will need a complete stocking, while established ponds will only need occasional fish deliveries for better management. 

For the most part, the cost is broken down in two ways. The first is the type of fish, and the second is the size of the fish. Depending on which fish you select and how large you want them, the cost per fish can increase substantially. 

Be prepared to spend a significant amount of money on pond stocking Georgia and especially a new pond from fish hatcheries.

So Is It Time To Stock Your Georgia Pond

That’s a question you have to answer. Many anglers get excited over the thought of having a healthy backyard pond or lake that can provide non-stop fishing action. Before haphazardly purchasing fish as a backyard experiment, consult an expert to avoid creating an unbalanced lake that will never thrive to its potential. However, remember, stocked fishing ponds in Georgia are also in public areas for residents and visitors to enjoy.