The redfish effort started with a simple "what if" conversation among power company employees. AEP hosts a Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Marine Development Center on the grounds of one of its power plants in the Corpus Christi area. The center includes a redfish hatchery, so AEP passed its idea along to TPW officials that work nearby.

"We got the process rolling by getting an analysis of water samples over to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The samples fit what they were looking for and they took it from there," said Mike Fields, AEP Coleto Creek Plant manager. "Many employees are avid fishermen and they would love to catch a big redfish from this lake. This was the perfect kind of project for us."

Redfish, Sciaenops ocellatus, also called red drum, rat red, bull red or just "red," grow large and fast in freshwater, but they won't reproduce. Reds typically reach about 11 inches and one pound in the first year, 17 to 22 inches and 3 1/2 pounds in two years, and 22 to 24 inches and 6 to 8 pounds in three years. The current Texas record for the fish is just over 51 pounds. Redfish must be at least 20 inches long before anglers can legally bag them. Many of the young fish won't make it to maturity, but they will serve as a food source for other native species. Their introduction into the Coleto Creek reservoir will help insure the overall health of the natural aquatic environment.

The very popular Coleto Creek reservoir draws more than 300,000 visitors each year, most of whom are fishermen who recognize it as one of the best lakes around. It has 3,100 surface acres of water and 61 miles of shoreline. Most of the trees were left in the reservoir after the dam was completed to provide good fish habitat.

It was completed in 1979 as a power plant cooling lake for AEP's Coleto Creek power station, a 632-megawatt single unit coal plant. The Guadalupe- Blanco River Authority (GBRA) manages the lake. GBRA says the fact that Coleto Creek is a power plant lake is a plus for anglers -- particularly in the winter.

"Because the reservoir is a power plant cooling pond, some of the best fishing action occurs in February and March because the water is already warm enough for the fish to be active and preparing to spawn," said the GBRA. The public organization maintains the lake, including boat launches, docks, campgrounds and related facilities.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it America's largest generator of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in the U.S. in electricity volume with a growing presence in natural gas. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 7 million customers worldwide and has holdings in the U.S. and select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services, energy management and telecommunications.