Hidalgo has received over 800 Lone Star Bass fingerlings from the Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) fisheries management district. These offspring are from the Toyota ShareLunker Program and were delivered this week to the Historic Hidalgo Pumphouse fishing channel, a 6-acre channel located behind the Historic pumphouse museum at 902 S. 2nd St.

Between May and July, the TPWD will stock Texas lakes with pure Florida strain largemouth bass exclusively from broodfish produced from Legacy Class (13+plus pound) entries into the ShareLunker program. These unique fish, dubbed “Lone Star Bass” to denote their special significance to Texas, are made possible by the valued partnership with anglers who loan their fish to the program. This project marks the beginning of a long-term goal of the program. Once the process is finished, TPWD will have stocked 53 waterbodies with more than 6 million Lone Star Bass fingerlings, all descendants of ShareLunkers. The upgraded broodfish are expected to advance the work started decades ago to genetically enhance largemouth bass populations in Texas and provide Bigger Better Bass.

Hidalgo was chosen as one of the 53 sites to receive these great “Lone Star Bass.” This is another great project supporting the quality of life for Hidalgo and the surrounding area.