3 months ago
STOCKTON, CA - When Jason Earlywine and his fishing buddy Josh Hersom drop their poles into Lake Don Pedro, they expect to pull something out.
"Catfish, trout, bass, crappie once in a while. We weren't expecting to catch this," said Earlywine.
What both guys pulled out of the lake recently, one right after another, were fish that they'd never seen at the end of the line before. Then took the fish to a California Department of Fish and Game office for identification.
"Her eyes got all big and said it's definitely a piranha," said Earlywine.
Although it turns out that evaluation wasn't exactly right, it was close. The guys caught two Pacu, part of the piranha family, and fish that aren't supposed to be living outside of South America.
"I was surprised, really surprised. It was pretty scary, especially when I took the hook off and it started snapping at me," said Hersom.
There probably wasn't reason for that fear because Pacu aren't as fierce as their cousin fish. They're believed to be vegetarian.
Earlywine intends to have his Pacu mounted since this is one fish story that could use some proof when it's told.
Even though these fish were likely put into the lake because they outgrew someone's home fish tank, Hersom is predicting more success with this unusual fish.
"We fish almost every day, every night. We'll catch another one," he said.
News10/KXTV
