Pacu
name: Pacu
other names: Pla Paku
Pacu are a narrow, plate-shaped dark gray bodied fish. They have a black upper body and back with a small mouth and blunt teeth. The most common Pacu is the red bellied as it has a bright red belly. There also black Pacu's along with silver / golden specimens.
Pacu's live in either tropical rivers or landlocked waters. Pacu's are mainly found near the surface in shallow and calm water. The do prefer shaded areas often found under trees and bushes.
Pacu's are mainly vegetarians that will adapt to eat almost anything. In the wild they eat very hard nut-like vegetation that they crush in their powerful mouths. Although these fish are related to the parana they do not bite living fish although they sometimes can be caught on lumps of fresh fish flesh.
Several years ago the government of Brazil set-up a fish farm to spawn and release Red Pacu. This fish farm was very successful at spawning the Red Pacu, and the Red Pacu's spread to many other fish farms all over the World. A consequence of this flood of Red Pacu's is that other Pacu's, such as the Black Pacu, are very difficult to find now.
Tackle consist of a suitable rod and reel set up that is capable of handling fish in the 10 to 15lb sizes. Line also is around the 10 to 15lb class but either strong short leader or small wire trace is required to protect from those short teeth. When these fish are hooked they are like an underwater rocket with constant direction changes. They will head for shelter among roots and snags.
