This time of year if there is no wind, you can see most of the fish in the canals and local waterways down to a depth of a few feet. This last week or so, in the canal by my job I've seen Midas Cichlids including a huge, bright orange one caught by a kid, fishing. Mayan cichlids. (the most common fish now) A 10 inch pacu. A few oscars. Dull red colors. A giant gourami. Several tilapia,both silver/ white and white with orange specks. A couple of peacock bass. Many giant plecos, and some small convicts. I've only seen a handfull of largemouth bass and no native pan fish have been spotted at all. There are nests all over the banks that were previously guarded by mayans that have moved off now. These large patches of light colored sand make for great viewing spots when any fish swims over them. In south Florida, it's WAY TOO LATE.
Yep you guys are already stuffed. Hope you can get to like eating carp, its really the only option. There is only so much cat food in demand.
Unfortunately the ecosystems of many of your rivers and lakes has already been seriously damaged. Some say beyond repair.
In Aus, we are ridiculously restricted with what we can own and what we can't. We have a bit of a problem in some rivers with electric yellows colonizing. And there are the odd story here and there of largish aquarium fish being caught in rivers, but on the whole our restrictions mean I as a fishkeeping enthusiast cannot own the fish that I want. On the other hand it idiotproofs our freshwater ecosystems.
We are similarly restricted in gun ownership, and guess what, very few gun related fatalities.
Do you think your national fixation with ultimate freedom for all has something to do with this?
ie, a little restriction is probably not a bad thing, as for the most part, ppl are idiots............