Pacu

[Ahnkochee]

Is there an established reproducing population of Pacu in Lake Wilson? I know they are caught but curious to know if established, and not just individual release fish that have grown. I'd love to target them.

[roadwarriorsvt]

I "think" Chris Wright may have caught one years ago. I doubt there are very many in the lake if any at all now.

[Stan Wright]

Chris and I were fishing on the north side of Kemoo Island. He saw a good size peacock bass and cast a small live tilapia to it. There was a flash and the line started melting from the reel as the fish made a long strong run... this is not a peacock. He landed the fish a few minutes later. The paku weighted 2 1/4 pounds as I remember.

Chris filled in all the paper work for a new state record... but never turned it in. Someone caught an 8 pound paku a month or so later.

Chris kept the Paku in in his 50 gallon fish tank for a long time. It would eat anything they tossed into the tank. Dog food, vegetables, fruit, nuts, cockroaches, lizards... anything.

[shanai]

The State record for Pacu was supposedly caught in Manoa Pond (?) If this is the pond that I'm thinking off, it's not very big but it does hold some nice sized koi. It's possible that Pacu released into Lake Wilson could flourish and breed and I wouldn't be surprised what one could catch in the lake.

http://www.hawaiifishingnews.com/records_d.cfm?ID=522