Oklahoma Boy Catches Exotic Fish With Human-like Teeth in Local Pond
A young fisherman in Oklahoma caught in an unexpected surprise this week when he discovered a piranha-like fish in his local pond.
Charlie Clinton, 11, was passing a hot summer’s day when he reeled in a pacu fish, an invasive South American species with human-appearing teeth which is closely related to the piranha.
While they don’t typically pose a threat to humans, pacu are an exotic animal which can be tremendously harmful to native wildlife.
The only way it might end up in a public body of water is if the fish's owners abandon them there. Many people who buy pacus for home aquariums are unprepared for their massive size. They can grow to be as long as three-and-a-half feet and weigh up to 88 pounds.
Along with a photo of the beast baring its fangs, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation posted to Twitter an unambiguous rebuke: “Dear, whoever released an entire Pacu (a South American fish closely related to Piranha) into a NEIGHBORHOOD pond; how dare you.” [sic]
Dear, whoever released an entire Pacu (a South American fish closely related to Piranha) into a NEIGHBORHOOD pond;
— Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (@OKWildlifeDept) July 18, 2023
how dare you. pic.twitter.com/WwQqJ9REAz
In another Tweet, the Department of Wildlife tersely addressed the person who abandoned the pacu. “Your fish was caught by Charlie Clinton. He is 11."
Your fish was caught by Charlie Clinton. He is 11.
— Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (@OKWildlifeDept) July 18, 2023
DO NOT RELEASE YOUR PETS.
THEY ARE AN EXOTIC, INVASIVE SPECIES THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. pic.twitter.com/2Vnc07sdmB
Janna Clinton, the boy’s mother, told NPR she initially thought her son was pranking her when she was summoned to view his horrific discovery. “He was screaming, 'Oh my God, mom! Oh my God!' I thought he was just being dramatic, to be honest,” she admitted.
After photographing Charlie with his proud catch, the Clintons released the Pacu back into the pond. “It's a catch and release pond,” Janna said, “so we unfortunately did release it back because we didn't know any better at the time…We made a mistake there.”
Yet their unwitting error has given Charlie a mission for his summer vacation. He’s been out early and home late each night, spending the days tracking his pacu.
If he manages to net the creature once more, his family has some special plans for the fish.
“We're going to get it mounted for him. I think that's a heck of a prize and he deserves it," Janna said. "I told him we'd make it look like the fish was smiling so you could see its teeth.”
Strangely, this isn’t the first time an 11-year-old in Oklahoma has caught a pacu. Nearly five years ago to the day in 2018, Kennedy Smith reeled in a Pacu from a lake outside of Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma’s DWC is asking anglers who catch a pacu to remove them from the water and contact their local game warden.
“Don’t be that pet owner,” the DWC said of Charlie’s find. “Don’t let it loose.”