Lately one of my favorite places to fish is City Park, New Orleans. The park has been overrun with a species of fish called the Rio Grande Cichlid, Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum. This fish is aggressive and quite fun to catch on a 3wt fly rod. The problem is it is an introduced species of fish. The fish are found throughout the park and in the canals and bayous that surround the park. The exact method of introduction is not known. More than likely they were introduced by people who had them in their home aquarium and released them into the park when the fish got too large and started eating the other fish in their tanks.
Rio's, as they are known, originate from southern Texas and Northern Mexico. They were big in the aquarium trade for many years.
The biologist in me knows that they do not belong there and should be eradicated but the fisherman in me really enjoys catching them. It is a quandry.
Each year City Parks holds its Big Bass Rodeo. The rodeo is the oldest running fishing contest in the United States. For the past few years they have added a category: Rio Grande. In this category the largest number of fish caught is awarded the prize. The fish are not returned to the water as the bass are. Last year's winners brought in 961 fish! Even with this amount of fish brought in, the bayous in the park are still filled with the exotic species. It is one of the most prolific fish I have ever seen.
My main reason for looking at this fish with disdain is it has displaced native fish and filled their niche. And yet, I cannot stop deriving enjoyment in the fight the give me with a light fly rod.
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