NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Pasco County child hospitalized Monday afternoon after being stabbed by a catfish barb is recovering.

It happened, according to Pasco County authorities, just before 1 p.m.

The child was fishing with his mother when the fish barb pieced the child’s chest.

According to authorities, the mother was taking the child to a hospital when she instead pulled over and called 911 as the child began having trouble breathing. 

They pulled over at 4442 U.S. 19 North.

The child was listed as a trauma alert and taken by chopper to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.

William Rutherford, owner of the Rusty Bucket Baithouse in New Port Richey said catfish barbs can be dangerous. He recommends using a dehooker to keep catfish at a distance while handling them.

"They do have venom in them,” he said of the barbs. “If you get pricked by one, it goes on your skin and it breaks or fragments a little bit, you're going to get some venom in you. Some people react to it better than others."