Who doesn't love the show River Monsters, hosted by biologist and master angler Jeremy Wade? Wade travels the world following rumors of killer "river monsters." Essentially if there are rumors or legends of people being killed by what lurks below the water, Wade heads out to fish the area hoping to reel in a potential killer.
If you grew up thinking that sharks were the most dangerous things to haunt the waters of the world, these fresh water creatures put them to shame.
1. Goliath Tiger Fish
This fish may be a relative of the piranha family, but that is where the comparisons end. It took Wade a quarter-century to land this massive predatory fish in the Congo River of Central Africa. The fish gets its name because of its massive, razor sharp teeth. It can cut through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter, and they have been known to attack humans.
2. Payara - The Vampire Fish
Wade managed to catch one of these creepy monsters from the fresh waters of South Africa. It has two massive fangs in its bottom jaw, these teeth can grow to between 4-6 inches. The fish itself can grow up to three feet long. Not something you want swimming around your feet while you're out for a dip.
3. Wolf Fish
The unexplored waters of South America, with their dark murky water can be terrifying for the average person, even if they don't have their body in the water. Wade was night-fishing for wolf fish when he caught a massive one under a waterfall. These are aggressive predatory fish that grow up to nearly 4 feet in length and weigh over 90 pounds. They have been reported to attack humans.
4. Amazon Stingray
Wade was drawn to the Colombian part of the Amazon River when he heard a story about a bride that had died on her honeymoon. Rumor was the woman was killed when a stingray impaled her and dragged her to the bottom of the river. When he managed to catch a massive example of the Amazon Stingray, there was not doubt in his mind that a stingray could be responsible, "This young woman didn't stand a chance."
5. Alligator Gar
You don't have to travel to a foreign country to encounter one of these massive fish. Wade caught a 123 pound gar while fishing the Trinity River in Texas. The alligator gar is said to be more dangerous than some sharks, and since it has been around since the Jurassic period, it has had plenty of time to evolve into a fearsome predator.
6. Lamprey
This is one creepy-ass fish. Wade likes to call these "the vampires of the deep," because they have a funnel like mouth that they use to grab onto their prey like a suction cup. The fish then drills a hole into the skin of its meal in order to suck out all of the bodily fluids that it can.
7. Red-bellied Pacu
This may be a cousin to the piranha, but instead of being carnivores, these fish tend to focus on eating river vegetation and other nuts that happen to fall into the waters. It has human like teeth that it uses to actually crack and chew food. In 2001, the pacu was blamed for killing two fishermen in Papua New Guinea who had jumped into the water for a swim. They bled to death after a pacu mistook their genitals for something they usually eat.
8. Giant Bull Shark
Yes, that's right, the bull shark can survive in both salt and fresh water. The bull shark is still Wade's biggest ever fresh-water catch with the beast weighing in at 500 pounds. The bull shark is responsible for the greatest number of human attacks comparative to all other sharks capable of killing a person.
Will you think twice before getting into the water from now on? Let us know what the creepiest fish you have ever caught is.