I was just doing my usual over analyzing of Lake Fort Phantom Hill and realized that there have been a few Red - Bellied Pacu caught here and apparantly Lake Fort Phantom Hill holds the state record on this fish.

Even more interesting is the fact that this fish is vegetarian and was caught on shrimp. I haven't personally seen these pulled out but I have heard reports of them being pulled out all across Texas.

Does anyone have any stories about this fish that may be interesting or any first hand experience with them?

I had them in my aquarium, and they tend to like eating grapes, green peas, and the most expensive fish in your tank

The Pacu I caught in Thailand was 40 lbs and I caught on tuna.

They are not native,are closely related to piranha and can be somewhat dangerous. There jaws are incredibly strong. Basically dispose of them if caught, they have been found all over the country:

As exotic species
In the United States

Discoveries in the United States have been reported in Alabama,[8] Arizona,[9] Arkansas,[1] California,[10] Colorado,[11] Georgia,[12] Idaho,[13] Illinois,[14] Indiana,[15] Kentucky ,[16] Maine,[17] Maryland,[18] Massachusetts,[19] Michigan,[20] Minnesota,[21] Missouri,[22] Missouri,[22] Nebraska,[23] New Hampshire,[24] New York,[25] North Carolina,[26] North Dakota,[27] Ohio,[28][29] Oklahoma,[30] Pennsylvania,[31] South Carolina,[32] Texas,[33][34] Utah,[35] Wisconsin,[36] and Wyoming.[37] [38] State wildlife authorities typically advise home aquarists who wish to get rid of overgrown pacu to cut the heads off the fish and dispose of them as garbage.[36] However, Habitattitude, a U.S. national initiative led by the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force, recommends humanely disposing the fish through a veterinarian or pet retailer, returning them to retailers, or donating them to a local aquarium society, school, or aquatic business.[39] Additionally, aquarium-raised fish can be eaten (see note in Food fish for cautions and instructions).[40]

There was a rather horrific River Monsters show on this fish. I won't go into details right now but if you have seen it you know what I mean.

"THE NUTCRACKER"

I'm not sure crack is the correct word.

That isn't quite it. I am sure it...but you're getting close.

I think a TFF'er by the name Blues has caught one in Abilene,but I cannot remember which lake.

It was at lake Kirby....

I saw one that a guy caught on Buffalo Springs lake in Lubbock. The teeth are quite strange.

The Mutalator