Boy reeling in exotic piranha-like fish in a pond in Oklahoma

Officials say a boy fishing in a nearby pond in Oklahoma found something unexpected at the end of his fishing line.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Charlie Clinton reeled in his fishing line and found a Pakufish, a South American relative of the piranha. said on Facebook. A photo shared by the department shows Charlie smiling as he shows off his catch. Another photo shows the inside of the fish’s mouth, which includes human-like teeth.

Charlie has already returned to the pond and is looking for his “next big catch,” the police said.

Pacu have been found in Oklahoma waters before and are generally harmless to humans, the agency said.

The greater threat is if the invasive pacu is dumped in Oklahoma waters, the department said. This usually happens when an individual purchases this exotic fish as a pet and is subsequently surprised by its growth. Pacu can reach 3.5 feet in length and 88 pounds in weight.

“Abandoning unwanted pets in waterways can be extremely harmful to native wildlife,” the agency said on Facebook. “(Pacu) is an invasive alien species that can damage local ecosystems.”

Fishermen who spot the pacu should contact their local game rangers, the agency said.

Fishermen have caught pacu from everywhere Pennsylvania To Indiana. In 2018, another Oklahoma youth caught a pacu while fishing in a lake. Kennedy Smith, 11, said when she was with her grandfather, caught a fish.

Kelly Breen

Kelly Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current affairs, breaking news and drug use.