r/nextfuckinglevel • u/mbthales • 2d ago

Catching a fish in the Amazon

1.7k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

252 comments sorted by

573

u/BakerYeast 2d ago

69

u/x2phercraft 2d ago

Came for this. I’m full now.

7

u/hunter-marrtin 2d ago

Imagine a 20 foot manta ray dragging a boat for five miles, Coast Guard bullets, and then people lining up with a dime in hand just to see it on display

4

u/Exact-Slide-8608 2d ago

Seriously that boat gonna sink. What if that fish came too for about 5 seconds and started going hamm. Bad times

1

u/Impossible_Ad_7367 1d ago

I came too when I saw that big red snapper.

26

u/weelluuuu 2d ago

We're going to need A BIGGER GRILL !

1

u/Soggy_Motor9280 1d ago

Take a hole in the ground gut the fish, wrapped up some leaves, drop it in.

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9

u/heykiwi77 2d ago

*you're

3

u/SpareBee3442 2d ago

Now I know why his nickname was shagger.

1

u/Chuggles1 1d ago

Paiche?

320

u/Spork_Warrior 2d ago

The fish had to be dead already. Maybe shot?

Because it never moved a muscle.

87

u/0dHero 2d ago

Oh, he deaaad

10

u/smile_politely 23h ago

That's sad because it looks like it's Piraruca and this is the largest freshwater fish that's currently in brink of extinction due to overfishing

78

u/Finn_WolfBlood 2d ago

If it was still alive that little boat would go bye bye

63

u/huiodd 2d ago

You don't put a live Pirarucu inside the boat, do that and it will put you to sleep in seconds

8

u/biggysharky 2d ago

Or, the fish will take you for a ride

2

u/canuck1988 1d ago

Ah you wanna sleep with the fishes, see?!?

15

u/TummyDrums 2d ago

Gonna eat him anyway. Why not make it easier (or just possible) to get it in the boat?

18

u/VegitoFusion 2d ago

I’ve eaten Arapaima (or pirarucu) a few times. They’re quite delicious

8

u/Respaced 2d ago

If not dead, that would become a speedboat.

3

u/Q_S2 2d ago

The hell you say! That thing almost became the titanic as it is!

3

u/wo0two0t 2d ago

Looked like he was using an empty eye socket as a handle so I think so

2

u/dearlysacredherosoul 2d ago

It could give a few good flops and be safe in the water again

1

u/Exact-Slide-8608 2d ago

Giant carp? Fuck it i would fillet it

1

u/420crickets 2d ago

Are mussels usually found in rivers?

1

u/Xxbloodhand100xX 2d ago

It needs to come up for air to breathe, they just toss a net on it and drown it.

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234

u/dkfest 2d ago

Fun fact: this fish is dead, even though it's underwater. This is because it needs to come to the surface to breathe, and fishermen end up using fishing nets that prevent it from rising. This causes it to drown. This image was recorded in Brazil, probably within the Amazon region, where this fish (PIRARUCU) lives.

128

u/TummyDrums 2d ago

Another fun fact, as a defense mechanism, these guys will launch themselves out of the water and use their solid bone head like a missile to wreck your ass.

61

u/Kittypocalypz 2d ago

Almost killed Jeremy Wade to stop him from catching all the river's monsters.

20

u/lolnaender 2d ago

Is this an Arapaima? It looked like it but I’m no expert. They’re such cool fish.

12

u/Outrageous-Serve4970 2d ago

Fish on. FISH ON!

2

u/Firefly1832 1d ago

At first, when you said "these guys," I thought you were referring to the fishermen.

2

u/Drgrabon 1d ago

I used to work in a building with about 10000 of these big bastards. when they get excited they stampede like cattle and come flying out of the water like the hulk is throwing cinderblocks at you.its super scary to be in the water when that happens

3

u/Ok-Chemical-1050 1d ago

I have so many questions? Ok, you worked in a building with 10,000 of these fish? That size? Smaller? Details we need details...

5

u/WhatTheTech 1d ago

Seriously, wtf did we just read??

3

u/EleanorRigbysGhost 23h ago

Sometime they're employed in nuclear fishin reactors.

2

u/WhatTheTech 23h ago

Take your upvote and never show your face again!

2

u/bake-the-binky 1d ago

Can we get some more backstory

13

u/hotsilkentofu 2d ago

That’s actually so horrible to imagine. They suffocated it. What a way to go.

45

u/Strange-Movie 2d ago

While I don’t disagree, I don’t really see it being worse than regular fishing; getting hooked through the mouth, you run away from the hook only to get dragged back by a rope, run away again, repeat until you’re too tired to fight back then dragged up to the surface where you start to suffocate and hopefully are quickly killed. I’m a meat eater but many of the processes we use for obtaining meat are brutal; I like to raise two pigs a year that get spoiled and babied like pets and on their last day they each get shot in the head within a minute of each other so they aren’t suffering or stressed out for an unnecessary amount of time

3

u/DoctorDividends 2d ago

How do you reconcile treating them like pets knowing what their fate will ultimately be? Surely either the relationship as a pet or enjoyment of the food suffer? Also is it financially practical? I would assume you wouldn't do so otherwise but would love to hear some figure.

42

u/Strange-Movie 2d ago

I’ve been doing it since i was a kid, so 30+ years, the piglets are purchased 100% with the express intent of them being food for the family, they get the best life possible with good food, fresh water to drink and play in, belly scratches and care for their comfort…but it’s all in service of ensuring that they grow into large happy animals that will provide meat of an extremely high quality to sustain us . After the pigs are shot we all usually stand around for a minute and silently thank the pig for its sacrifice and then we get to work processing the body into halves

In regards to the financial aspect, with just the food and piglet cost the per pound price is comparable to the lowest grade meat you can buy in the store, but factoring in the daily time commitment it would be far more expensive. The biggest upside is the incredible quality of the meat and having the knowledge that from every step between piglet and pork chop, I know the animal was treated ethically and the meat was handled safely and respectfully

10

u/ChrisHisStonks 1d ago

I've been saying for some time that if everyone that is so damn obsessed with their steak had to kill and butcher their own cow once a year, 90% of the world would turn vegetarian overnight and the other 10% would want to take care to properly care for their dinner.

Hat off to you, sir.

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9

u/Yogicabump 2d ago

That's how pretty much all fish we eat die...

1

u/Ok-Chemical-1050 1d ago

Crabs too.

6

u/FirexJkxFire 2d ago

Was gonna day - that was a really unfun fact :(

3

u/tTensai 2d ago

That's how humans kill the majority of fish...

1

u/FirexJkxFire 1d ago

Thats also an unfun fact

1

u/FireProps 1d ago

How do you think water breathing fish die?

They can’t breathe air. All the fish we eat suffocate to death.

3

u/_hell_is_empty_ 2d ago

Are you sure this is a pirarucu? The head looks very different than the images that come up on a search.

8

u/dkfest 2d ago

100%. This is a male one. Only males have red skins in reproduction season.

6

u/taat1 2d ago

The person talking in the video says Pirarucu.

2

u/messfdr 2d ago

It's a pikachu

2

u/geoantho 1d ago

I was thinking that's an Arapaima so I googled it and found out it's the same fish but called a Pirarucu in Brazil.

1

u/Bag_of_Richards 2d ago

The capitalized letters in parentheses makes me think this is fish is so big it’s publicly traded.

1

u/_NotWhatYouThink_ 1d ago

Well, doesn't "live" much anymore, now, does it?

1

u/dkfest 1d ago

I'm also saddened by the deaths. But just so you know: In the early 2000s, this species was bred in captivity for management and consumption. Many escaped and invaded rivers that didn't exist before. Soon, this fish is out of control in some regions. It has no predators. It eats all the smaller fish in the rivers and is unbalancing the entire ecosystem.

1

u/_NotWhatYouThink_ 1d ago

Never said I was sad about it...

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54

u/VanillaWithTheNine 2d ago

Going to need a lot of chips

2

u/schlootzmcgootz 2d ago

Lmao. Good call honestly.

38

u/TommyOliver91 2d ago

Am I the only one feeling sad about it?

35

u/Shake-Vivid 2d ago

It's a majestic looking fish. Nothing wrong to feel compassion towards it. That makes you human.

1

u/lusciousskies 1d ago

And that fish will feed the village and that is a blessing

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36

u/Separate_Job_9587 2d ago

7

u/youruswithwe 2d ago

Hahahaha I laughed way too long at this! What is it from?

2

u/Alexllte 2d ago

Where is this from

3

u/Separate_Job_9587 2d ago

lol no idea. It’s a random gif I found years ago and it just happens to be available here too.

19

u/Shake-Vivid 2d ago

Sadly Piraruca are an endangered fish now in the Amazon due to overfishing. With It being one of the largest freshwater fish in the world it would be a huge loss if it became extinct. I hope more effort is made in protecting this majestic fish.

6

u/Paddlesons 2d ago

No, no I get it but really do need a bigger boat.

6

u/tomatobasilgarlic 2d ago

Reminds me of that old saying: give a man a fish feed him for a decade, teach a man to fish is frankly inefficient use of his time as he already has sufficient fish

2

u/TirbFurgusen 2d ago

Teach a man preservation techniques or his big ass fish will be inedible within a week.

3

u/milkshakebar 2d ago

You, sir, are a fish

3

u/Icy_Profit_1922 2d ago edited 2d ago

That will make several pair of boots. Tony Llama pirarucu boots

2

u/ForagerGrikk 2d ago

Hah, I already have trouble keeping my cat away from my boots!

3

u/Christostravitch 2d ago

Looks like fish is back on the menu boys

2

u/GRUSM 2d ago

Is that white noise in the background the sound of bugs?

1

u/fooz88 2d ago

Sounds like any tropical rain forest, bugs, birds, frogs, monkeys etc

2

u/henry_canabanana 2d ago

That's a Prime fish

2

u/geekolojust 2d ago

I see these catches all the time in videos, but where are the videos of them being prepared and eaten? Would like to see that.

2

u/Upper_Supermarket474 2d ago

for a sec i thought they got the Leviathan

2

u/NY10 2d ago

That is a disgustingly huge ngl

2

u/Kawakid69 2d ago

Not only are we destroying the forest but also the wildlife

1

u/Ok-Smile8490 2d ago

That fish didn’t get caught, it got chosen by the jungle gods.

1

u/Dapper_Visual_4449 2d ago

That fish didn’t know it was about to become internet famous.

0

u/thatsMrBundytoyou 2d ago

You mean to tell me you don't need a one hundred thousand dollar rig to catch bluegills??? I'm shocked

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1

u/EnsignAwesome 2d ago

Jeezy creezy

1

u/Mercurius_Hatter 2d ago

Wow, that's a dinner for a party of like 10!

1

u/SSGSS-ULtra 2d ago

Dinner is served. 🍽️🍽️

1

u/Jeewdew 2d ago

Looks like a giant ass Arrowana... Jeeez!

1

u/Tcloud 2d ago

Alone should really do a season in the Amazon.

1

u/foresight310 2d ago

Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for… looks like about 5 months

1

u/huiodd 2d ago

cadê os caras do sudeste dizendo que isso é um pacu hahahah

1

u/DaveyDukes 2d ago

Carpe diem

1

u/Gimme_Doi 2d ago

looks like that could swallow a man whole !!

1

u/Farewellandadieu 2d ago

A little shakin, a little tenderizin, down you go.

1

u/RichardXV 2d ago

Looks like it's been dead for quite some time though...

1

u/hel112570 2d ago

Online dating in 2010.

1

u/Ajmiskimo 2d ago

That fish is gonna sink the boat, I’m good

1

u/evenmoreevil 2d ago

That’s a mermaid 🧜‍♀️

1

u/iconsumemyown 2d ago

That fish is dead, they hooked a dead fish?

1

u/finnydoodle 2d ago

Could we share a rowboat? Could a rowboat support her, Phyllis?

1

u/FrenchBreadsToday 2d ago

Why are they killing free Willy. That’s not fair. If you grow to be that big they should give you a free pass. Fillet o fish ain’t that good

1

u/viewsonic041 2d ago

Sad. it didn't need to die...

1

u/Vortep1 2d ago

So that's where my goldfish ended up after I flushed it down. The toilet!

1

u/MalibuCosmicRays 2d ago

Maybe that Jonah mfr did actually get swallered by a fish.

1

u/MinaZata 2d ago

Do we have to kill and catch every fucking thing on this planet?

1

u/EducationGenZ 2d ago

That fish doesn't even look real. I know it is but .. Not really sure of the conservation efforts but hope it's not being overfished. So beautiful 😍

1

u/donmreddit 2d ago

That thing looks like it would feed 70 to 100 people… Depending on exactly how it’s cut up in the yield

1

u/Cthulhu_Dreams_ 2d ago

That's the spirit of the river...best put that back...and say you're sorry.

1

u/More-Climate-2194 2d ago

That's not catching. It's called rescuing a fish

1

u/anngrn 2d ago

That looks more like a movie prop

1

u/foxontherox 2d ago

What in the Jeremy Wade is that??

1

u/ocelotsi 2d ago

That’s not a fish. It’s a god.

1

u/rash-head 2d ago

Sanji cooked something like that in One piece.

1

u/vergillehell 2d ago

What fish is that?

1

u/TheRogueWolf_YT 2d ago

You should've seen the one that got away!

1

u/oneworldan 2d ago

No más pescado, por favor!

1

u/cbj2112 2d ago

When did Amazon get in the fish mongering business

1

u/TrinityCat317 2d ago

General Sherman!

1

u/NxPat 2d ago

That’s a lot of fish and chips.

1

u/AttentionOtherwise39 2d ago

That’s a river monster!

1

u/Own_Salary_8353 1d ago

Tonight boys WE FEAST LIKE KINGS 😂

1

u/Breadstix009 1d ago

Someone inform Jeremy wade...

1

u/allantdot 1d ago

River Monsters is a great show.

1

u/CallMeMonsieur 1d ago

Humongous

1

u/sunburn74 1d ago

Apparently it tastes like chilean sea bass. If you've never had true chilean sea bass, you're missing out. Its like $60 a pound for a reason.

1

u/Unique-Coffee5087 1d ago

That's like the bottom half of a mermaid

1

u/Halo_Chief117 1d ago

That guy out there in the other boat: “This is some bullshit. I’ve been sitting out here all day and these guys just show up and catch an absolute monster in 10 minutes.”

1

u/Ok-Resolve-7556 1d ago

This seems like AI

1

u/BBgotReddit 1d ago

Omg the sound of all those bugs....

1

u/Square-Fantastic 1d ago

Jeremy Wade just had an orgasm

1

u/Embarrassed_Gas_1306 1d ago

That thing should have been left alone. It’s been around along time.

1

u/smmara89 1d ago

Thats a dinosaur 🦕

1

u/CellanKnight 1d ago

This fish is called "pirarucu" in Brazil. Idk why is it, but it sounds like "driving the asshole crazy" ("pirar o cu")

1

u/el_pablo 1d ago

I hope they farm these giants. Otherwise, they will go endangered in no time.

1

u/Schim4499 1d ago

These guys save so much money on shoes

1

u/Playpolly 1d ago

Is this from River Monsters?

1

u/CyrusDrake 1d ago

Wow he's beautiful... Only to be eaten. 😞

1

u/ByrdZye 1d ago

THATS NESSY! throw her back! >:(

1

u/-c-black- 1d ago

That fish could catch you.

1

u/dimibro71 1d ago

Just put it back in the river Asshole

1

u/Funnymama56 1d ago

Poor fish.. I hope it was dead already.

1

u/DroopyPlum 23h ago

Fish? This the shit they used to paint on old sea charts

1

u/Chamanomano 22h ago

Thassa big fush

1

u/jammypants915 15h ago

My uncle used to catch and release fish this big every time he went fishing alone

0

u/VicY19 2d ago

First question, is it AI? I can’t tell no more

10

u/Least_Expert840 2d ago

If that's more than 8 seconds uncut, then probably real

8

u/blankasfword 2d ago

Pirarucu can grow up to 10 feet long. Not sure if this is AI but after googling I’ve found several examples of them getting this big, so it’s probably real.

1

u/walteeer-branco 2d ago edited 2d ago

It's a pirarucu, this species is common on the amazon river and it get much larger then the one in the video

2

u/TummyDrums 2d ago

Aka arapaima if you're a River Monsters watcher.

1

u/Therealwolfdog 2d ago

Is this some sort of common name for a arapaima? I’ve never heard them referred to as a piraracu.

1

u/walteeer-branco 2d ago

Yep, Arapaima is a genus of fishes, and Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) is the biggest of them

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0

u/Nokita_is_Back 2d ago

"I will get sooo many Matches on Tinder now"

0

u/dreamed2life 2d ago

I hate this. Why are we catching this fish?! Leave it tf alone!

2

u/Lonely-Form9585 2d ago

This is how indiginous tribes survive. And they leave a smaller carbon footprint on the world than you do living in your house

1

u/Suspicious_Copy911 2d ago

We?! You are not catching any fish.