Wild Plecostomus

[chinoanoah]

I had heard that some plecostomus had been released in the Hillsborough River (Tampa, FL) but today I actually saw them! Over a span of 30 minutes I probably saw 5 or 6, all over 12" - some even 16"+

Only had my phone on me, however. Strange sight, these fish are worth some $$! Also, these are probably legitimately wild since Plecos aren't known to mate in captivity. I wonder when their ancestors were dropped in this river. It's all real weird. But, very cool overall.

 

[black hills tj]

Only had my phone on me, however. Strange sight, these fish are worth some $$! Also, these are probably legitimately wild since Plecos aren't known to mate in captivity. I wonder when their ancestors were dropped in this river. It's all real weird. But, very cool overall.

Where'd you find this info? Depending on the species of pleco, most of them breed very often in captivity.

 

[chinoanoah]

Oh, i thought that was common knowledge, but also.. lemme see....
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pleco.htm#bred

 

[black hills tj]

Oh, i thought that was common knowledge, but also.. lemme see....
Robyn's Pleco Page

I guess I misunderstood that you were talking about hypostomus puncatatus in particular. Maybe I missed that in your first post.

 

[mgamer20o0]

they are all over fl along with many other fish.

 

[Algenco]

I've read they are so thick that the fish farms quit breeding, they buy eggs from collectors who get them from the rivers.

 

[blazeyreef]

I have seen them in rivers here in TN to

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

That's awesome, I wouldn't really see wild plecos where I live because of winter. But this is way cool should of try to catch em lol.

 

[rob28]

those are pretty big ones. i think i would have gotton so excited i would have jumped in like an idiot

 

[mgamer20o0]

people do catch them i know a friend that has pleco traps. he even catches uncommon plecos. its crazy what people toss in the lakes and rivers. there is a site i go to where they do fishing trips in fl. all they catch is tropical fish.

 

[chinoanoah]

Thats cool.

 

[rob28]

people do catch them i know a friend that has pleco traps. he even catches uncommon plecos. its crazy what people toss in the lakes and rivers. there is a site i go to where they do fishing trips in fl. all they catch is tropical fish.

i went to a gravel quarry once about 8 years ago to fish. i caught an oscar that was about 12 inches long. a guy that i talked to said that some tool emptied a 90 gal tank of all kinds of fish, a couple of days prior.