NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

February 4, 1999

CONTACT: Randy Myers (352) 392-9617 Ext. 240

FWC STOCKS BLACK CRAPPIE IN LOCHLOOSA LAKE

A second experimental stocking of black crappie in Lochloosa Lake has Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists confident they can rejuvenate the once-heralded fishery.

Early this year, FWC biologists will stock an estimated 104,000 4- to 6-inch black crappie fingerlings in the 6,000-acre lake located near Gainesville. In January 1998, FWC released 123,000 fingerlings into the lake in the first-ever, large-scale experimental stocking of black crappie in Florida.

"Historically, Lochloosa Lake provided excellent black crappie fishing, attracting many anglers from all over the country," FWC fisheries biologist Randy Myers said. "It was not unusual to have over 100 boats per day on the weekend on the lake during the peak of the crappie fishing season."

That was before the black crappie fishery crashed in 1992.

According to Win Boggs, owner of Yankee Landing Fish Camp, crappie fishing was very important to the local fishing economy, and poor crappie fishing during the 1990s severely strained local businesses dependent on fishing. "We used to sell 10 pounds of minnows a day back when crappie could be caught from the lake," Boggs said.

Studies conducted by FWC biologists on Lochloosa Lake indicated the crappie population was not rebounding on its own. The idea of stocking fingerling crappie was discussed as an alternative that could potentially improve crappie fishing. However, there were two major problems to overcome. Little was known about culturing crappie fingerlings since it never before was needed in Florida and rarely practiced in the southeast United States. Secondly, FWC hatcheries were burdened with propagation of other fish species, and thus had no hatchery ponds available.

Aid came to the ailing Lochloosa Lake crappie fishery in the form of a partnership, led by Myers. The FWC fisheries staff in Gainesville joined forces with the University of Florida's Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Florida Carribean Science Center and the Save Our Lakes Association. Fisheries researchers from the university provided technical assistance regarding aquaculture techniques. Save Our Lakes members helped with broodfish collection and pond harvesting. The USGS provided their research for rearing fingerlings.

The cooperative crappie culture project was successful and the number of fingerlings produced exceeded expectations. Over 140,000 crappie, 3 to 6 inches long, were produced in the USGS ponds during the first year of the project. All but a few of these fish were stocked into Lochloosa Lake in January 1998.

Fish population sampling conducted in fall 1998 by FWC fisheries biologists suggested high survival of the stocked crappie.

Lochloosa Lake anglers have already noticed the improvement in the crappie population. Ron Gaylen, Lochloosa Lake fishing guide said, "While bream fishing during the summer months, I caught numerous small crappie and often would have to move to another location in the lake to fish, away from the schools of bait-stealing small crappie."

Myers said it will take about two years for the stocked fingerlings to reach 8-10 inches long. Furthermore, he said Lochloosa Lake anglers are encouraged to release the small crappie they catch back into the lake, thus allowing the fish to reach maturity and spawn."

Due to early signs of success, officials have decided to extend the project, resulting in a third stocking in the year 2000. Bill Stranghoener, facility manager for the USGS-Florida Carribean Science Center said, "We will continue to assist in the biology and conservation of aquatic species in the southeast United States by offering rearing ponds to the FWC for black crappie culture."

"Cooperative projects that involve other agencies and groups like the Lochloosa Lake crappie-stocking project make the FWC's goal of enhancing fisheries more easily attainable," Myers said. Hopefully, in a matter of a few short years, Lochloosa Lake will regain its reputation for providing outstanding crappie fishing.