Often mistaken for a piranha due to its blunt head and rounded body, the pacu is a fascinating and powerful Amazonian gamefish in its own right. Despite the resemblance, it follows a mostly herbivorous lifestyle—specializing in cracking nuts, seeds, and fruits that fall into the water from overhanging trees. This diet has earned it a reputation as a fruit specialist and a critical ecological player in seed dispersal throughout the floodplain forest.

Growing to over 80 cm and weighing up to 30 kg (66 lbs), pacu are built like tanks. When hooked, they offer deep, dogged resistance and surprising bursts of power—especially in current. They're not as aggressive as predators like peacock bass or payara, but they make up for it with raw strength and incredible stamina. Their rounded body shape, strong tail, and downturned mouth make them uniquely suited to bottom feeding and fruit foraging.

Although commonly caught as bycatch during multi-species trips, anglers can specifically target these fish during peak flooding seasons in slower-moving or lagoon environments.