Plecostomus snagged while bass fishing, and they're everywhere!

[hawgenvy]

I accidentally snagged a plecostomus by the tail with a lipless crank today while bass fishing and pulled the crazy guy up to the bank. I snapped a few photos and let him go. I've heard they're okay to eat. This type of plecostomus is a common invasive species here in Pam Beach County. They apparently arose from people dumping them from household aquaria and now they're breeding like rabbits. They are supposedly unwanted but I have no knowledge regarding any harm they might be doing to the local ecosystems. They are largely plant and detritus eaters. Anybody have experience with these?

[Bluebasser86]

I know that bowfishing for them has turned into a thing. I wouldn't think they would be a huge concern in Florida since they mainly eat vegetation. Not like there's any shortage of that. Armored catfish is the name I hear them by most often. 

[MassBass]

Could you catch these things on a baited hook? I have always wondered this as I watch them in my fish tank. Maybe a couple pees on a small baitholder hook?

[Darren.]

Only that I had one once in our fish tank. It grew
to 24" before I traded it in to a fish shop for some
other fish...

[gulfcaptain]

Yes you could catch them on a baited hook.  They eat plants, wood, small worms, shrimp, and snails in the deturis found on the bottoms.  I had one that would mob the worm feeder when I had Discus, needless to say he went back to the fish store as credit.   They don't do well in water cooler then 55 so they can't go too far north.

[soflabasser]

Yes I have experience catching Plecostomus,they are one of the many exotic fish we have down here.Have caught a couple of them over 22" and a couple pounds in weight.

[hawgenvy]

6 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Yes I have experience catching Plecostomus,they are one of the many exotic fish we have down here.Have caught a couple of them over 22" and a couple pounds in weight.

How'd you do it?

[soflabasser]

6 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

How'd you do it?

You can catch Plecos with worms fished on the bottom.

[Master Bait'r]

16 hours ago, MassBass said:

Could you catch these things on a baited hook? I have always wondered this as I watch them in my fish tank. Maybe a couple pees on a small baitholder hook?

 

Hey man pee on whatever you want but Megastrike seems a little more sanitary  

 

The cool thing is that much like goldfish, they will grow to suit their environment and forage level-  They can get into the 2' range given a big pond and lots of food.  I could see why people would bowfish them although I can't imagine they'd be very delicious.  

[hawgenvy]

14 hours ago, soflabasser said:

You can catch Plecos with worms fished on the bottom.

Might try that sometime in the summer when the bass bite slows down. Thanks!

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

Might try that sometime in the summer when the bass bite slows down. Thanks!

You are welcome!Fishing worms on the bottom is also a good way to catch a channel catfish.

[0119]

Pleco's, Hoplo's and tilapia have destroyed the sweetwater fishing here.  Prime bedding areas for bass are now bomb craters of tilapia beds. Theres not a bluegill left.

[soflabasser]

 The exotics don't seem to effect much the natives, at least down here.Most of the spots I fish are filled  with Bass,Bluegill,Bowfin,Gar, and other native fish.We are very fortunate to live down here in a thriving system with so many different species(both native and exotic) to target. 

[Kevin22]

Interesting. I bet they fight pretty hard being so streamlined! 

If they are invasive and breed like rabbits, why did you let it go? Wouldn't there be a law against letting it go?

[0119]

On 4/2/2016 at 5:01 PM, Kevin22 said:

  why did you let it go? Wouldn't there be a law against letting it go?

There is. No exotic species can be put back into the water period in Florida.