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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 147
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 147 |
I really enjoyed having these fish in my pond this spring. They have an incredible growth rate and are a ferocius fighter..only one problem..they are , by far, the most hook-shy species in the pond.At 1-4 lbls., they were quite aggressive, but nothing works now, not even live bait or a pellet fly. I managed to cath one to overwinter with my tilapia. The other 4, I'm giving up on. They even manage to avoid my cast-net! My SMB, on the other hand, are really thriving in my relatively shallow (8' max) pond in the north texas summers. I think the well water and aeration were the key for them. They have recently taken to pellet food, and many are approaching 10" or so in size.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
Howard,
We had 2 pacu last year, and caught each one several times. They quit biting when the water got cool, but maybe they finally became hook shy.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957 |
Mine are off and on, I have the best luck with bait on the bottom now, shrimp or hotgogs. They are aggressive eaters and when I first throw the pellets, I can occasionally get a strike on the first cast from a pacu.
Usually I can only catch one, the others get the word and it will be a couple of days before they bite again.
1/4 & 3/4 acre ponds. A thousand miles from no where and there is no place I want to be... Dwight Yoakam
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417 |
Be careful with overwintering pacu. If you have anything soft plastic or rubber the will chew on it like mice. My pacu last winter chewed some of the outer sheathing of a heater cord.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 147
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 147 |
thats interesting Brian. The line going to my aerator in the pond, is leaking like a sieve! I figured something had been chewing on it..Maybe the pacu are the culprit..
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261 |
Mine are off and on, I have the best luck with bait on the bottom now, shrimp or hotgogs............ hotgogs........now i gotta try some of those
GSF are people too!
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957 |
They are good with tickles, bunions and custard.
1/4 & 3/4 acre ponds. A thousand miles from no where and there is no place I want to be... Dwight Yoakam
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,261 |
BTW, what does pacu taste like? nice fleshy white meat?? easy to fillet? lots of bones?
GSF are people too!
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
tickles, bunions and custard huh? I'm scared to ask.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957 |
DD1, The condiments for hotgogs
Dave Excellent white meat, firm and tasty, they have a 'y' bone that leaves bones in a filet. We cook as a whole fish or cut into steaks.
1/4 & 3/4 acre ponds. A thousand miles from no where and there is no place I want to be... Dwight Yoakam
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 352
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 352 |
Where did you get the pacu? I might try putting some in one of my small ponds to try out.
Thanks
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 |
Texas715...
If I remember correctly you are down south of me by Houston. They will have Red Bellied Pacu in just about every pet store that sells fish. I don't know if it is a different breed, but I remember seeing that they can grow up to 24 inches if the tank is big enough.
Water dries, rocks crumble, and trees die. The only thing that is eternal is the reputation we leave behind. - Ancient Viking Proverb
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 957 |
Texas715, ezylman is right, they will get big, I have the red bellied. When you visit the pet shop ask them if anyone of their customers has one or more they want to get rid of, they can out grow a tank fast and you might get a big one or two to add to the pond. They don't breed in pond environments, so it will be catch and release or replace. They eat almost anything, including any pond plants. It looks like if you can overwinter tilapia, pacu will make it as well. You only need to catch one to make a believer out of you. This one was stocked 1 1/4" long on Mar 24, 05, caught 9 lb 9 oz on Sep 6 08
1/4 & 3/4 acre ponds. A thousand miles from no where and there is no place I want to be... Dwight Yoakam
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