Common Name:   Tilapia,

Local Name:  Tilapia (Tagalog); Tilapia (Cebuano)

Max Size:  40 cm

Biodiversity: Freshwater, Brackish

Depth:  1 – 7 m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  6 inches

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Worms, Masa (doughbait), algae; flies

IUCN Red List Status:  Not Evaluated (NE)

I went fishing this morning in the Mabacan River hoping to catch some carp that I have heard inhabit our area.  I was not able to catch any carp, though I was able to hook this tilapia on a doughball and corn.  I think I am now convinced that these are Red Bellied Tilapia in our river.  There may be other species as well,  but this is the only one that I can identify with certainty.  These are an introduced species.