What a difference teeth make!
Pacu, with their mouths full of molars are the "lotus-eaters"
of the Amazon fishes. Their diet consists
mostly of flowers and fruits, with an
unlucky bug occasionally joining the menu. Although
they look awfully similar to their razor-toothed
brethren, they have a reputation for placidity. |
Throughout the Amazon, the name
pacu has been given to a range of flattened, rounded fishes primarily from
the genera Mylossoma, Myleus and Metynnis. Like their larger
cousins, the tambaqui and pirapitinga, pacu favor the vegetarian lifestyle.
That doesn't mean, however that they can't be convinced to join in on a
little sportfishing activity from time to time. Several species can
readily be caught on light tackle and will put up an impressive tussle.
Ultralight spinning rods that can deliver
a kernel of corn or wadded piece of bread can make for a diverting afternoon
(not to mention a delicious dinner). Fly casters should use 2/0 Clousser
Minnows and especially fruit-colored Glo Bugs dead-drifted in trout/salmon
fashion. The Brazilian specimen at the top, left, took a "bread fly"
(spun deer hair, cut and trimmed to look a piece of floating bread) in
moving water, just like a trout sipping a dry fly.
There are at least twenty species
of piranha (Serrasalmus sp.) swimming the rivers throughout
the Amazon basin. Some grow larger than 8-pounds and can be excellent
light tackle adversaries (especially on smaller spinning/casting rods or
a 5-6-weight fly rod). Examinations of piranha stomach contents have
shown that their typical food consists about one half of fish while the
other half includes fruit, seeds and bottom detritus.
Needless to say, piranha are not picky eaters and will take literally anything
remotely resembling a baitfish. A small Rat-L-Trap tipped with meat
is deadly. These feisty little creatures can, at times, be quite a nuisance
as they have a nasty habit of destroying your lures or that custom-tied
eight-dollar streamer the second it hits the water. |
Great fun on light tackle
Piranha are members of the subfamily Serrasalminae, within
which are also included the pacu. They are, of course, distinguished
by their very different teeth. The Piranha's dentition has made them
the Hollywood horror stars of the fish world. In spite of their vicious
reputation, most species feed on fish, some specializing in hit and run
scale eating. The greatest danger they present to the angler is the
safe removal of hooks from their horrid litle snapping jaws.
They do, however, taste very good pan-fried.
 |
