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?

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. 

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?

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...

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.

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.

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?

6 hours ago, hawgenvy said:

How'd you do it?

You can catch Plecos with worms fished on the bottom.

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.  

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!

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.

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.

 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. 

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?

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.