Kurtz Fish Hatchery is a leader among fish hatcheries, and owner Richard A. Kurtz is well known for his general knowledge of the industry. Located in Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Kurtz Fish Hatchery specializes in raising fish for the sports market. This hatchery is licensed to produce the following sport fish: seabass (striped hybrid, largemouth), channel catfish, crayfish, American eel, common goldfish, big fish and pinkish minnow, mussels, golden seabass, sunfish of pumpkin, tadpoles and rainbow trout. It is one of fourteen approved dealers who have received permits from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to import, transport and sell triploid grass carp in the state. Triploid grass carp is used for low-cost, herbicide-free aquatic weed control in ponds and lakes, imported from Asia and genetically altered in hatcheries to prevent fish from spawning.
Pennsylvania fish farmers grow more than twenty species of sport fish. Two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s $ 15 million in farmed fish is used for sport fish restocking. Probably the most widely distributed and popular hot-water sports fish in southeastern Pennsylvania is largemouth bass. Hybrid striped bass grows well in ponds, grows rapidly in ponds, and is becoming popular as a sport fish.
One of the reasons Kurtz Fish Hatchery is a leader in the industry is excellence in fish and pond management. Pond management is becoming increasingly important and requires specialized techniques for warmer Pennsylvania waters. Small ponds are best for a limited number of game fish species: bass, sunfish, and catfish. Lake fish (pike, muskellunge, and walleye) do not do well in a small pond. Most of the warm, shallow ponds in southeastern Pennsylvania are not compatible with Trout, because the water temperatures are too warm, causing a lack of oxygen.
Ponds must be managed carefully with regard to plant density. Too much density in aquatic plant beds will stunt Sunfish and reduce the effectiveness of Largemouth Bass as population controls in Bluegill. There is a delicate balance between the two populations that must be maintained. Large amounts of decomposing material left in the pond can also deplete oxygen.
Farm-raised fish are farmed in conditions that give them plenty of room to move and develop their muscles as they grow. Several species are raised in pond conditions with a limited amount of artificial foods added to their diet. This means better survival and vitality after average. If not handled properly, the result will be a stunted sunfish and undersized sea bass. There is a need for a proper ratio of seabass to sunfish, or overpopulation will stunt the sunfish. Captured bluegill should never be returned to ponds due to their ability to breed and crowd ponds.
Extensive and detailed knowledge of fish farming and pond management is what makes the Kurtz Fish Hatchery a reliable and resourceful dealer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. For additional information or if you have unanswered questions, please contact the company directly.
Kurtz Fish Hatchery
161 Isabella Road
Elverson, PA 19520
(610) 286-9250
