Piranha caught by 8-year-old boy in Pennsylvania lake

An eight-year-old boy, Seamus Coffey, caught a red-bellied piranha while fishing with his father, Michael Coffey, at Ridley Park Lake in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The boy, who identified the tropical fish after recognizing it from YouTube videos, initially believed he had hooked a bass.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission confirmed the catch was a species of piranha. Officials stated the fish was likely an exotic pet that was unlawfully released into the waterway by an owner unable to maintain its specialized care requirements.

Spokesperson Mike Parker noted that while the piranha likely would not have survived long in Pennsylvania's climate, the incident highlights the ecological risks and legal consequences of releasing non-native species. The Coffey family ultimately disposed of the fish humanely to protect the local ecosystem.