It’s Illegal To Release This Fish Caught By A South Carolina Teen

Imagine being out on the lake for a bit of recreational fishing.  And, you reel in a creature that looks like a piranha!  According to WYFF, 15 year old Drew Patrick of Anderson, South Carolina did exactly that recently.  But, the fish the teen caught  is actually a "pacu."  And, it's illegal to release, resulting in possible prosecution if caught.  Reports indicate pacu have teeth, making them related to piranhas.  Although the pacu diet revolves around plants, seeds, nuts and insects.

The South Carolina teen caught the fish while on Lake Hartwell.  And, South Carolina DNR site  indicates that this variety of fish is considered "aquatic exotic."  So, although anglers might occasionally snag them on this lake, it's illegal to release them.  Plus, they are actually on a list of animals that researchers deem "adversely affect public waters."

While the pacu is South American, some purchase it for aquariums and release it when it gets too big.  And, that's often how it ends up in our waters.  More than two dozen states report finding pacu.  Researchers are unsure at this point what effects the breed actually has on ecosystems.  Although, some regions around the world eat the pacu.  I think I'll pass.

Oddly enough, the website everywherewild.com points out Theodore Roosevelt complimented the taste of pacu and referenced eating them in a book he wrote.  And, you'll know the difference between the pacu and a piranha in several ways.  The teeth of the piranha are sharp and jagged.  In contrast, the pacu teeth are flat, eerily resembling human teeth.  And, piranhas are slightly smaller than the pacu.

So, this teen certainly has a great fish story to share with his friends.  But, just keep in mind if you find yourself in the same situation as Drew Patrick, it's illegal to release the pacu.  In fact, reports say they became such a problem in one Texas town, officials offered up a $100 bounty on them to help clear them from local lakes.  Patrick has plans to mount and hang the fish for display.  In closing, I now know more than I ever thought I would about the distant piranha cousin!

Here is a little background on my experience fishing.  My dad took me pond fishing for the first time just about the same time I was able to hold a cane pole.  To say I was "hooked" right away is an understatement.  The funny thing is, my Dad didn't really like fishing but when he saw how much I loved it he took me time and time again. As a grown up, I started looking into fishing guides.  Here are my 3 favorite fishing guides on Lake Wylie.

I grew up with a dad that fostered my love of fishing and he took me as long as I did these things. Girl,he said, "you need to tie your own knots, bait your own hook, take off your own fish, know how to clean it and learn how to cook it." And I did.

After I got to college at Western Carolina University I found a great river to go trout fishing in and I quickly moved right across the street from that river.  Now here is the funny thing.  I married a guy that does not like to fish. How did that happen? Long story short, I started to look into fishing guides on Lake Wylie.  There are many of them and many good ones.  Admittedly I have not tried them all but I have found three that I would highly recommend. I have fished with these three guides multiple times and I have always had a blast.  And most importantly they put me on some fish. If you are looking to catch catfish on Lake Wylie, you will not go wrong with these amazing captains.

Justin has taken me and my morning show partner Tanner out fishing several times.  This man is passionate about catching catfish.  He knows where to find them!  We have always had a blast with Justin and he is a heck of a nice guy.  He loves teaching kids how to fish.  Make it a girls day on the lake or bring the family. He offers different levels of guide service and may even clean what you catch!  Check out Justin's Facebook page right here.

I have been fishing with Rodger more times than I can count.  We primarily fished on Lake Wylie but caught some big ones on Lake Wateree as well.  Rodger is another guy that knows where to find catfish and how to catch them.  My brother in law Jim and I really enjoyed fishing with Catfish On! Guide Service.

Captain Trent is an old college friend of mine.  He and I used to fish for trout on the Tuckaseegee River in Cullowhee, North Carolina so he is a personal friend.  Trent has always been passionate about fishing , lives on Lake Wylie and thought he would share his secret fishing spots with others.  He has a new guide service he calls Wylie Guide and my brother in law and I  went fishing with him in December.  It did not take long for him to find some nice ones for us and we had a blast.  He is a great guy, a knowledgeable angler and he will flat put you on some fish.  I can personally highly recommend Cpt. Trent for a great day catching catfish on Lake Wylie. Check out details right here