PlanetCatfish.com

This young man (Brigs?) posts You Tube videos of himself collecting exotic tropical fish in ponds and ditches in Florida. A video came up today on my Facebook feed showing him collecting Pangasius (adults and juveniles) as well as a Synodontis sp and a Pseudomystus sp. Was anyone aware of these catfishes living in Florida?

-Shane

That's news to me, but with all the fish farms and the good weather to support fish released by civilians, I'm not surprised.

Ive watched a few of these, usually interesting. You might find this one interesting, especially around the 15 min mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvo_ydIkSpo

I get that many of these are escapee populations from fish farms and that he may catch the occasional fish released by irresponsible aquarists... But L330? Can't see someone dumping a fish that expensive and they are not captive bred in Florida fish farms.
It's a shame his collecting techniques are so rudimentary. It would be interesting to use much finer nets to collect fry and get an idea as to which fishes are actually reproducing. He is also causing a lot of unnecessary damage to the fishes.
-Shane

I'd like to believe the catches are genuine and these tropicals do live and can survive in these warm cushy sewers and wells in good water, teeming with good food, and where our cold spells can't get to them as they do in the unprotected outdoors (where vast majority of tropicals die off here in FL in longer and colder spells), and that these fish do not live in complete darkness all their lives and lose all their color and come out in Florida sunshine in warmer season or catch enough sun through the city sewer grills. I'd not be surprised if it wasn't quite as depicted for every fish featured.

I know for a fact big Youtubers plant or stage catches, I've rubbed elbows with them, it's a no-brainer. Not at all saying this one does it, however seeing every thumbnail fake and desperately click baited doesn't instill confidence. They do produce an entertaining content worth watching sometimes though, I enjoy watching some of it.

Shane wrote: ↑02 Aug 2023, 14:48 ... It would be interesting to use much finer nets to collect fry and get an idea as to which fishes are actually reproducing.
-Shane

On average, to a more serious fish head, yes, I'd agree. To an average viewer of his content, it'd be simply boring and they'd watch a different youtuber and he'd lose viewership and ad earnings. What he has been doing obviously has been working wonderfully for him in terms or fame and income, no need to change this.

Found that his actual LLC is registered in Delrey Beach, so he is not far from you Viktor.

Also found this
https://www.cruisingfreedom.com/bass-fi ... oductions/

"Bass Fishing Productions has come under intense social media controversy for their fake ‘pet store dumpster rescue’ stunts.

While viewers believe that Bobby and his crew are rescuing thrown-out fish, it appears that Bobby previously bought these to stage a ‘rescue’ and essentially faking the whole thing.

These staged ‘rescues’ ultimately go viral, earning Bobby a ton of clicks, views and ultimately revenue from YouTube.

And his loyal fans believe the stunt 100%!

It’s an incredible strategy…until you’re busted for it!"

No idea if this means he plants fishes he "captures" in the wild as well. As you noted, he is certainly making good money either way.

-Shane

Thank you, Shane. Yes, there is a lot of such youtubers on the south-eastern coast of FL.

Activity like that can be harmful by creating in the minds of many people (some of them related to government, e.g., some of them government officials' children, some of them Florida Wildlife Commission employees) that the Florida pet fish industry is full of incompetent or careless people dumping a ton of exotics into and destroying the wild / outdoors.

Such negative falsifying efforts (even if fake, in the end no one would care fake or real) add their share to an overall push to the ultimate goal of Australian scenario. In other words, such videos laying the ground for a denial of our fish-keeping freedom literally now, as we speak, and surely more to come in the future.

Shane…let’s say you’re correct that Bobby is faking all of this. That he himself dumps fish he bought into sewers and abandoned pools. WHY would he dump fish that are supposedly incredibly expensive? WHY would he toss fish back if they were his in the first place? Wouldn’t he then be “dumping” as well? As for why would people dump their fish…not everyone can find buyers for their fish. Lots of stores actually have told me they only get their fish from purveyors to be sure they are free of any diseases. Maybe these people can’t find buyers and are moving. They can’t take the fish….so what do they do with them? It’s against the law to dump store bought fish like that…I was told it messes with the eco system somehow. But seriously…if he’s faking, he does a good job at getting totally excited when he sees what’s in his traps. Just sayin.

Please scroll up and read my previous postings. I never said that this guy (Bobby?) was faking anything.

-Shane

"Believe none of what your hear and half of what you see."

And when what you see is on Youtube, the fractions change.

youtube does not pay for quality content, they pay for views. But consider the below if this person is catching fish in sewer systems (I added the red to the text below):

What is the concentration of ammonia in sewage?

Average NH4 concentrations in domestic sewage influent are about 40 mg/L. However, there is a large caveat on this figure. Where water usage is less than average, concentrations can shoot up. For example, previous experience in French villages has shown inlet ammonia concentrations up to 100 mg/L!May 23, 2024

Sewage Parameters 5: Ammonia (NH4) - Butler Manufacturing Services
butlerms.com
https://butlerms.com/education-blog/sew ... mmonia-nh4