Black Bass in Lake Chapala

Are they good eating? What about toxicity, are they bottom feeders?

Are they being caught and released or taken home to eat?

They are good eating. We usually catch and release but I would eat one out of the lake. I wouldn't eat it everyday.........

Trailrunner wrote:Are they good eating? What about toxicity, are they bottom feeders?

1. They are a delicacy!!! Extremely tasty!!

2. Toxicity...if it's in the lake, it's in the fish. I personally practice "Catch and Release". So I don't worry about toxicity.

3. The Black Bass and for that matter, all the Bass species, are predators feeding on other live fish. In a general sense, in the waters they inhabit, they are considered the top of the food chain fish-wise.

jofrabt wrote:Give me a call, great bass fishing in chapala, this was caught today

I will be in town the second week in December and I would like to fish. I would echo our faithful Moderator...how do I contact you to discuss a trip?

Dr. Stong's research a few years ago showed that the livers of the fish contain toxins, as this is the function of livers, to filter the blood. But the flesh of the fish is completely harmless.

brigitte wrote:yes that is what google says but fish is one of those whose names can be very confusing and there are differnces between the area.. Do people eat it here?  If there are so many in the lake and it is good eating why don t we see them at the tianguis?

The habits of the wily bass are such that they do not lend themselves to commercial fishing. They are generally not easy to net as they like heavy structure and don't school like the typical fish offered in commercial surroundings. I imagine you might see them once in a while at the tianguis but I have seen them available NOB commercially.

With rod and reel there are limits on game fish NOB, certainly on bass, so that limits their commercial viability. Again NOB, the only fresh water fish sold commercially is the catfish and these are farm raised in ponds.

Dcrodwell wrote:

jofrabt wrote:Give me a call, great bass fishing in chapala, this was caught today

I will be in town the second week in December and I would like to fish. I would echo our faithful Moderator...how do I contact you to discuss a trip?

Your contact person for bass fishing and/or just about anything else is CanuckBob our main man here.

Do you need a license to fish from shore? I have a 13 foot surf casting rod and reel. The rod is La Criox, graphite butt, custom built to the reel.The reel is an Alvey sidecaster from Australia. It is designed for 2 to 4 ounce weight. There are many floating and diving lures available in this weight range. They are mostly designed for ocean fishin, but I see no reason they would not work for bass.

John Alvey made his first prototypes, then entered a casting competition, won it by casting a 2 ounce weight 671 feet. This distance is easier with this modern version. In the ocean, they usually use a live minnow and a fish finder rig. Which is basically a way for the minnow to roam around. Say up to six foot. If you get a strike and a hook, everything slides down to the weight. The reel holds 1,100 meters of 17 kilo test line. I also have a vintage (1963?) Abu Garcia bait casting reel. Made in Sweden, but still runs like a Swiss clock, excellent condition.

Anyways, tell me if this is a viable effort. I would also be amenable to sell this as a package deal, including heavy weights, and big river lures. I used to shore/ river fish for salmon and sturgeon. If someone is more mobile than me, and goes to the surf or big rivers once and a while, I would rather see them enjoy it.

That gear won't be viable for bass but you may catch some carp or tilapia. The bass are under the lirio and in other areas with lots of structure. You don't need a license for fishing off shore anywhere in Mexico.

Can weedless hooks and lures be used. I have never tried them, but they seem very popular.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bass+fishing+weedless+lures&oq=Bass+fishing+weed&aqs=heirloom-srp.2.0l5

They might work. I use rubber worms and bullet weights.

I remember some Mexican fishers started a bullfrog farm. I dont know what happened to it. Are baby bullfrogs a bait for bass?

Bass will eat anything that moves.

Went fishing out on the lake yesterday in a friends boat. We caught 4 small bass (1lbs - 2lbs) on spinner baits and crank baits. We fished the south shoreline and the east side of Scorpion Island.

New to this site and will probably be moving to Lake Chapala. Some questions please...

Is it safe to eat Bass caught on Lake Chapala?

Do poppers work for the bass there?

Where is the closest river fly fishing to Lake Chapala?

Are there any other cleaner/deeper lakes for trout fishing around the region?

Thanks!

Jay

Welcome.

The locals eat fish from the lake regularly.

I have seen poppers work. I use worms, crankbaits and spinners.

There are many cleaner, deeper lakes within a 3 hour radius that have trout and bass. I believe they are brown trout.

I'm not aware of any fly fishing rivers however I've seen people fly fishing for tilapia in the lakes.

Fantastic, From away I can feel it.