"Ballcutters" in the lake.

[Ahnkochee]

I just got thru watching "River Monsters" and this episode which took place in Papua/New Guinea was called "The Mutilator", and about a fish that attacks men's genitals while they bath in the rivers reportedly even resulting in death from bleeding in some cases. The natives in their pidgin language call it "Ballcutter". It leaves bite marks like a human.
Conclusion of this story the mystery fish turned out to be a fish introduced by the Government 15 years earlier (sound familiar?) to help villagers with a new species to supplement their meager catch of native species. It is the PACU. Government figured since Pacu are known as herbivores not a problem but they have developed a taste for flesh even eating juvenile crocodiles, and ducks (besides man parts). They can supposedly get up to 55 pounds so a tad scary. Anyone here caught a "Ballcutter" in the lake lately, seriously? I'd like to target them but from the boat.

[Stan Wright]

Chris and I were fishing on the dam side of Kemoo Island a few years ago when he saw a nice peacock bass close to shore. He tossed a live talipia to it and there was an instant hook up... but the fish took off like a papio rather than a peacock. It made a long run, tearing line from the reel. It weighed 2 1/2 pounds if I remember correctly. No one had turned in a Paku for a state record so Chris filled out all the paperwork (and never turned it in) I hear there was an 8 pounder caught a few months later.


Chris kept it in a fish tank for a while... it would eat anything.
Hot dogs, carrots, fruits, dog food, cock-a-roaches, lizards... any thing the kids tossed into the fish tank.
I wouldn't put my hands in the tank with it. Look at the teeth on that thing.

[Ahnkochee]

Friend of mine caught this one on Portagee sausage. Herbivore?
http://www.hawaiifishingnews.com/records_d.cfm?ID=522


I hope there's a reproducing population in the lake.