Angler Catches Rare Fish with Human-like Teeth in Maryland Creek

An angler in Maryland had a surprising experience while fishing. Jeremy Cooper cast his line into Conococheague Creek in Kemps Mill. Initially, he assumed he had caught a typical sunfish. However, he quickly realized something was different: the fish had a mouth full of human-like teeth.

Cooper shared images of the intriguing fish with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Experts identified it as a red-bellied pacu, a type of fish native to South America, closely related to the piranha.

Pacu fish are not common in Maryland waters. Since 1995, there have been only seven reported instances of pacu in the state. The last of these sightings occurred in the Gunpowder River in 2006.

The Department of Natural Resources mentioned that pacus are often kept in home aquariums. Thus, it is likely that Cooper's catch originated from a private tank. A spokesperson stated, "The fish was most likely released from someone's aquarium." The department discourages releasing pets into Maryland waters to prevent potential ecological threats or disease introductions.

In another peculiar incident, Charlie Clinton, an 11-year-old from Oklahoma, gained attention last year for catching a pacu in a neighborhood pond. State officials indicated that this fish was also likely a pet released illegally.