PALMAS, BRAZIL - A video posted on social media drew attention to the unusual catch of a cachara catfish in a lake in the urban area of Araguaçu, in southern Tocantins state. In the footage, sport angler Ítalo Rodrigo measures the fish and determines that it is 85 centimeters (33.5 inches) long.

The fish was caught by 26-year-old Wallyk Nathan Sales. The young angler has been fishing in the area for four months and was hoping to find a large fish he had lost during a nighttime fishing trip.

When he realized he had caught a cachara catfish, Wallyk considered retrieving his equipment from his car. “I became even more desperate because I didn't know how I was going to hold it and get my equipment at the same time. That's when I called my friend Ítalo for help,” he said.

The fish was caught at around 11 p.m. Monday (Aug. 10). Ítalo went to the lake and helped Wallyk remove the fish from the water. According to the sport angler, it was the first specimen of the species caught at the site.

According to the angler, the lake is located in the city center and was formed by the Matinha Creek, which flows into the Piau River.

“When the water rises, the lake fills up and overflows at the dam. A lot of fish come in, but we usually only see piau, lambari and papa-terra. Just these small fish,” he said.

After being measured and recorded on video, the fish was released back into the wild.

Amazon Agency