Eleven-year-old Charlie Clinton’s fishing trip took an unexpected turn when he caught a fish with human-like teeth in a pond behind his house in Oklahoma. Charlie’s mother, Janna, was shocked when she saw the fish and immediately knew that it wasn’t a typical catch.
The fish, which was later identified as a pacu, a South American species related to piranhas, had been caught using a simple piece of bread as bait. Charlie’s mother was amazed by the fish’s unusual appearance and its feisty behavior.
“I thought he was just being dramatic, to be honest,” Janna said, recalling Charlie’s excited screams when he caught the fish. “But when I saw the fish, I knew why he was so upset.”
The pacu’s human-like teeth were a surprising feature, and Janna couldn’t help but wonder how the fish had ended up in their neighborhood pond. After contacting wildlife experts, the family learned that the pacu was likely a pet that had outgrown its tank and was released into the wild.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) was quick to respond to the discovery, tweeting a warning to the person who had released the pacu into the wild. “Dear, whoever released an entire Pacu… into a NEIGHBORHOOD pond; how dare you,” the tweet read.
The discovery of the pacu sparked a heated debate online, with many people expressing shock and concern about the fish’s presence in the pond. While pacus are not typically aggressive towards humans, they are known to be invasive species that can cause damage to local ecosystems.
As for Charlie, he’s still fishing in the pond, hoping to catch the pacu again. If he succeeds, his mother has promised to have the fish mounted as a prize. Despite the initial shock and concern, the Clinton family is taking the experience in stride, and Charlie is eager to see if he can catch the elusive pacu once again.
