Angler nabs 'vegetarian' piranha
Angler John Denton caught this exotic fish over the weekend. Photo courtesy of John Denton.
SEATTLE -- Angler John Denton was surprised to catch what he believes to be a pacu, a relative of the piranha at Lake Ki over the weekend.
According to The Everett Herald, Denton was fishing for perch and bluegill on Sunday when he cast his line into the lake near his home and came up with the unusual catch. One of his neighbors identified the fish as a pacu, a native South American freshwater fish that are related to the piranha.
"Bang, there it was," Denton told the Herald. "It's a pretty big fish, a big ol' herking fish." The fish Denton landed weighs about four or five pounds and he said it took him around 20 minutes just to haul it in.
Denton took the fish to the Tulalip Cabela's, where it's being held in quarantine in a large fish tank at the back of the store.
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is expected to pick it up Thursday.