Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Hook Shy Pacu?

With all the RES propaganda of late, surely they are safe? The RES were put in for snales and they DID their job! I will add more FHs as needed. They need to double in size and I'll put them in a small BG pond. When is the next club meeting? Your place?

It's raining right now but is supposed to clear by January. Then might be good.

Finally got time to post pics














We shall see how they winter. Tank holds 800 gal.

Ahvatsa,

How about the High Parana River in Argentina next January? I'll be there fishing for Pacu and also freshwater Dorado in another location.

That picture of the fish in your hand looks almost identical to mine when first purchased. You won't believe how fast they grow. I just shake my head in disbelief every time I catch one. Welcome to the club.

Ahvatsa,
They are jumpers, I don't know what scares them but something does and when it does they fly everywhere. I have them go 10-12 feet in the air.

"You won't believe how fast they grow."
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Meadowlark
That is an understatement! 40 days and they have doubled PLUS! I hope they winter...gonna be an expensive spring...lol
Furious feeders!

Intersting pacu experience this morning, I walked the pond around 8AM specifically looking for signs of a poacher. I didn't find any evidence, but have had a couple suspicious things happen over the last several days. I hooked up a couple of telltales and walked back to the house. Around 11 I looked out at the pond and saw a fish flipping around on the surface, got my binocs and it was a dead tilapia, about 3 lbs being eaten by two pacu. The head and tail were gone and they were going to town on the rest, I just checked again, 2:30PM, and there was about a pound left.
How the tilapia died I don't know. Poacher is the first thought as I don't see dead fish very often and then only after fishing.
I checked again at around 2:50 and the tilapia was gone. The pound probably wasn't eaten yet but the piece was small enough that a pacu could take it under water and it and others could eat it fast enough that it would not resurface. I have seen them do this before with a piece of watermellon rind, but a 1 pound chunk of fish is impressive, I ain't going in the pool today.

Good story Rad. Just more evidence what a gnarly fish pacu are. The last 3 times we hooked 1, we couldn't land him. Once the 8# test line broke, and twice it was bitten off just above the hook. We hated to start using heavy line for small bream fishing, but now use 10# line. I really would like to know their weight. I wouldn't be surprised if they are 5#. I hope we can catch them just before the water temps fall.

I don't know if I can ever be without pacu in the pond now. Maybe some big bass will make me forget about them, but currently they are the star attraction in the pond.

Interesting story Rad. When I first started with Pacu, I expected them to be vegie only because of the various research I had read...but they are opportunistic feeders. They have to be to sustain their unequaled growth rates. I'd be willing to bet that the Tipaia in question was injured by a poacher or something else and the Pacu were taking advantage of it and just finished it off.

Like Bobad, my Pacu have played havoc with light line BG fly fishing. They are a blast! I'm guessing that my "A" team Pacu are now about 6 pounds, but I haven't landed one in awhile....hooked but not landed. In another month or so, I'll start a deliberate effort to catch the larger Pacu and move them into the hot tub for their winter vacation. I also plan to scale up the numbers next year with many more grown out and ready for stocking along with Tilapia.

Just like Bobad says, the Pacu have become the star fish around here. I'm still looking for any bad characteristics as a pond fish, but as yet haven't found anything really bad...but still looking. I guess breaking all my light lines might be considered a bad characteristic..but its one I can live with.

Hey Guys, try GSP (gelspun) line such as PowerPro 20# test/6# equal diameter -or- Berkley Fireline Crystal 14# test/6# diameter my choice)

George,
Thanks for the suggestions,the problem so far has been the teeth, the fish swims back and forth across your field of view and with each turn the line crosses the teeth, then they jump. Wire is the way to go, but I like to fish the surface. I am using PowerPro 10# now with a long shank hook, by watching the bait and setting as early as possible the fish only gets the shank to chew on. When caught they snap their jaws shut on the steel, keeps you on your toes.

I'm not disagreeing with you Rad, but I share George's opinion about the toughness of Fireline Crystal.

Rad, It's good to know I'm not the only 1 with that problem!

When the pacu were in the 1-2 pound category, I always hooked them in the lips. Now that they are bigger, I guess they suck the bait in quicker, and are able to bite the line. It's a dilemma. I don't want my pacu to grow a beard of hooks, and I don't want to bream fish with a wire leader. I think I'll try the Berkley line and see what happens. (Thanks George and GW!)

Another update
They have grown beyond my wildest dreams.(double plus was an UNDER-estimate). I keep Aquamax 400 at the tank and 2 of the 6 now eat the roseys that come up for the feed. These 2 are an inch+ longer and fatter than others. They can totally inhale a 2" rosey. I did this on a whim and now will have to look at more info. Haven't searched yet but, any reproduction info? I have been involved in a Bamboo project and have missed my Pond Boss time and friends.
One more thing, the windmill that supplys water is a shallow well with large iron and mineral content. The Pacus seem to be thriving in this extreme HARD water.

Yet another update.

I hooked 2 more pacu Saturday, and lost them again. This time, the larger (10#)line held, but the hooks got mangled. One time, the hook was simply straightened. The other time, the shank was badly bent and the hook was also straightened. The fish obviously chomped down hard on the second hook. I'm going to a bigger hook. I'm dying to get a look at those fish.

bobad, I don't remember, exactly how big are these hook destroying monsters?

GW,

They're not that big... look to me like they're ~3-4 pounds. It's all in the jaws and teeth. They eat hard fruit and crack nuts for a living, and are armed accordingly.

ahvatsa,
I think you will have to pass on reproduction, it looks like it is induced in both sexes, at least in aquaculture situations. As for them eating other fish it sure looks like it, if given the chance. I wonder how big they would get on a fish diet?

Bobad,
I don't know the size of hook as they are not numbered here, but it is fairly large, maybe 1 or 01 long shank, I also use wire hooks, I cut the line and release all that have the hook near the eyes. So far no blind fish or other casualties during the last 2 years. Also there is a new type of wire that has a plastic coating that you can melt instead of tying, I will pick some up soon and try that. Let me know if you try the Fireline Crystal, I am going to California in a week and will pick that up as well if it works.

GW,
This is a very tough, stubborn fish and I prefer to wear them out in the water. These do more self inflicted damage flopping aroung on my banks than from the stress of the fight. I know George has had bad luck with lighter line with his small mouths, but so far the pacu have been very resilent. But, I will try the Fireline Crystal. I want to keep the line strength as small as possible, I catch 1 pacu to every 25 tilapia and a tilipia on 10# test is not much sport, that is what I am using now.

It is with great sorrow I must ask for a moment of silence for my 6 courageous Pacus...
Guess I'm in the market for a hot tub.