The Cyclic Stocking of Parentals in a Farm Pond to Produce a Population of Male Bluegill x Female Green Sunfish F 1 Hybrids and Male Redear Sunfish x Female Green Sunfish F 1 Hybrids

Abstract

A population of male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) x female green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) F 1 hybrids was established by parental stocking in a southern Illinois farm pond containing male redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) x female green sunfish F 1 hybrids and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In 1967, male redear sunfish and female green sunfish parentals, along with fingerling bass, were stocked into a new farm pond. Nine years later in 1976, male bluegill and female green sunfish were stocked into the same pond. At the time of sampling in the fall of 1978, bluegill x green sunfish F 1 hybrids weighed an average of 3 g at annulus I, 24 g at annulus II, and 171 g at annulus III. Growth rates among the three year classes varied widely. The best growth was exhibited by the 1976 year class of bluegill x green sunfish F 1 hybrids. Redear x green sunfish F1 hybrids sampled in 1969 weighed an average of 32 g at annulus I, 118 g at annulus II, and 217 g at annulus III. Both F 1 hybrid sunfish crosses produced fish that reached the theoretical minimum harvestable size of 110 g at annulus III.