Ok, I wanted to set the record straight here as far as the Northern Snake Head fish is concerned, we seem to have some conflicting information about the subject, I am going to use Charlies post here and clear up some of these questions for us, the notes I am about to post are studies from the VDGIF , MDDGIF, Va. Tech Research for the 2012 and 2013 updates.
Contrary to previously published messages, Northern Snakeheads do NOT have to be killed in Virginia waters. Since all of Pohick Bay is located in Virginia, you may keep ( a snakehead fish as long as it has been killed, if it is within the gunnals of your boat it must be dead), kill or release snakeheads caught there. However, anyone releasing them when they could be eating them is suspect. ( Take note this is for the Va. side, if you catch one on the MD. side it must be killed and thrown on the bank, or killed and kept, no parts of the snakehead can be put back into the water once caught, alive or dead. Also take note that if you were to catch a Snakehead in Md waters and transport it to the Va side or vice versa while the fish was still alive you are in direct violation of intrastate or interstate transport of an invasive species and can be fined !! ) Our local VDGIF fisheries biologist is the regional coordinator of the snakehead team and offers the following information: 1. Northern Snakeheads live in very shallow water. 2. They live in shallow water as they are air breathers.(They do not have gills and therefore, must come to the surface every 3-4 minutes to gulp air.) This part of the statement is false, research from the VDGIF and VaTech supports the following information:
Northern snakeheads do breathe air. Unlike many other air-breathing fishes, they have a series of spaces in the rear portion of their head called the suprabranchial chamber. These spaces are filled with folded tissues that have a high surface area, and allow oxygen exchange to occur directly between air and their blood. Unlike humans, they lack a diaphragm, and use water to exchange old air with fresh air each time they take a breath. Thus, their ability to breathe air when out of the water is limited. Northern snakeheads could survive out of the water for several days if they are kept moist, but would desiccate and perish in minutes if placed on dry land in direct sunlight. Northern snakeheads also have gills, and breathe water like any other fish. They breathe air to supplement their demand for oxygen, and appear to breathe air far more frequently when they are actively swimming, much like a runner gasps for breath compared to someone who is sitting and reading.
3. Their primary food source is the killifish, a very small minnow that lives in less than six inches of water.
4. Bass normally do not target killifish. Therefore, the two fish do not share the same water nor the same food source. Not totally true, studies reveal differently from the VDGIF:Over 20 prey items (mostly fishes) were detected, with banded killifish as the most common prey item by number, and bluegill as the most important prey item by weight. Diet was most similar to largemouth bass; however, bass had a wider diet breadth and a much stronger preference for cray fish
5. In all their studies, they have not found any bass in the stomachs of snakeheads. 6. However, the reverse is not true. Bass eat snakeheads. 7. VDGIF does not require the killing of snakeheads( Unless you decide to keep them ) because there is no way to get them out of the resource. Since they do not compete with nor affect bass (The above research shows they are very much in compitition for the same food source) or the other gamefish in the Potomac River, they are just another gamefish to the Department. (The VDGIF does not recognise them as a gamefish, they are noted to be an invasive species, again if you catch one you may return it to the water in Va. however if it is in between the gunnals it must be killed if you are planning on keeping it, if you are on the Md. side and you catch one it must be killed regardless and either kept or thrown upon the bank in its entirety )
8. Pohick Bay is a hot spot for snakeheads. White spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits and topwater frogs are all subject to being taken by snakeheads on any cast. As someone else mentioned, they hit like a ton of bricks and accelerate from there. Braided line in the 20-65# class is a necessity for the thick grass and lily pads that these fish love. 9. On two different occasions last year, I caught five or more snakeheads from the grass and lily pads on frogs and spinnerbaits. Personal best snakehead in Pohick Bay was 14.3 pounds. Unfortunately, the Tournament Director would not weigh them in for credit.
Charlie,
I do not mean to single you out, I found your post to be very interesting and informative, but at the same time we need to be accurate when we speak of laws and such which promted me to do a lot of homework and make sure we all understand clearly the rules and regs with the most up to date info possible, my posts as well were not entirely truthful and since yours had the most information for all of us to learn from I decided to use your post and insert the most updated corrections straight from VDGIF and other resources from 2012/2013.
I am going to delete the postings in the first page of this thread and put in the updated version of this discussion for all to remember and have as a reference, There will be mappings of Va./ Md. boarder lines posted as we get closer to the meet and greet.
