Snakehead For Dinner!!! Mmmm Mmmm Good!!!

[CountBassula]

So I set out to get a snakehead today, and I was very successful in my quest! And now she-who-must-be-obeyed and I have full bellies :-D

 

I first tried some frogs, and believe I hooked a snakehead judging by the fight it put up, but lost it mid fight. Then, I hooked another one, and it sliced my shad swim fluke in half (I only had one frog with me)! Then the bite switched to all bass, but I was determined. So I walked up to a part of my canal where I remember a fish made a huge splash when I walked by there yesterday. I figured it must have been a snakehead spot, so I walked up to the same location, and I casted my fluke. On the 3rd ot 4th cast I pulled out "dinner" :-) Man was I proud of myself! I actually went out today to target a specific fish and I came home with what I wanted!

 

And yea, all the talk of them tasting good is true! Delicious clean white meet! I opted for nugget sized deep fried breaded bites :-)

 

M.

 

P.S. After I took the meet of the bones, I decided to play surgeon... I dissected the guts and  discovered two interesting things: 1) remains of what looked like a crawfish and lizards. 2) snakehead had parasited: roundworms; I did some research before consuming, and learned that cooking kills it, and it's a common parasite in fresh water fish. Nevertheless, something to keep in mind when you're catching to eat, make sure you clean your preparation area and wash your hands super good after handling raw meet. Normally I would have not open the guts/belly area, just go straight for the meat but I was curious what it ate, and could't help but notice it was infected with tiny worms that were rolled up in circles, like this: http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh212/lake_vilbig1/VBC%20Misc/Parasites/wormsIMG_0128.jpg

 

Anyways, enjoy and *** the pics of my delicious dinner :-) :-) :-)

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Wow Great job.  They look delicous.  I have eaten the Northern Snakehead and let me tell you it was the best tasting fish I have ever eaten.  Try this next time fillet them and cut them into sandwich size pieces then bread them and fry them.  It makes the best fish sandwich ever. 

 

If you want the best snakehead fishing come up to Virginia and try our northern snakeheads out. The average one seems to be about 6-8lbs, but it's not uncommon for you to catch on 10-14lbs.  I am sure that the world record is snakehead is going to come out of our Potomac River. 

 

Jay

[WDinarte]

Great report and good information, never try this fish but will give a shot one day.

Nice catch.

 

*** Delfi_B

I'm still working on my Snake H. catch and by reports I know the Potomac have some good size here, just need to fing the spot that hold them, the are that I fish on the Potomac is around W.Bridge, Alexandria and Great falls, will add this year the DC area... I add the DC fishing Lic. This year so I will have some more spots to drop a line. Do you fish the Potomac for Snake H. From the bank or boat ?... I only fish from the bank, so at this point don't know if i will have a good chance to catch one from the Potomac. I have a great advice here how to target this fish fishing from the shore line, I just hope work on the Potomac. 

 

**** mvorbrodt, please forgive me, I'm not trying to hijack your post. I'm just working to target this fish and try to catch one this year.

[fishingman88]

Haha, glad you enjoyed your meal   Sounds delicious.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Great report and good information, never try this fish but will give a shot one day.

Nice catch.

 

*** Delfi_B

I'm still working on my Snake H. catch and by reports I know the Potomac have some good size here, just need to fing the spot that hold them, the are that I fish on the Potomac is around W.Bridge, Alexandria and Great falls, will add this year the DC area... I add the DC fishing Lic. This year so I will have some more spots to drop a line. Do you fish the Potomac for Snake H. From the bank or boat ?... I only fish from the bank, so at this point don't know if i will have a good chance to catch one from the Potomac. I have a great advice here how to target this fish fishing from the shore line, I just hope work on the Potomac. 

 

**** mvorbrodt, please forgive me, I'm not trying to hijack your post. I'm just working to target this fish and try to catch one this year.

 

You can pm me and I will tell you all you need to know.  Anyone can pm me for the same info.  Also a FYI bank fishing is a awesome way to catch them you don t need a boat!

 

 

Jay

[CountBassula]

Well, looks like I have to make an official correction to this thread: THE FISH I CAUGHT WAS A BOWFIN, NOT A SNAKEHEAD.

 

You can tell by the eyespot on the tail, apparently they are often mistaken for snakeheads and are considered trash fish and not tasty at all...

 

Darn do I feel stupid now...

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

That's kind of funny but I can see the resemblance. I am 99% sure you had a snakehead though.  I am no expert but I can see from google pics that there are spots like your fish has. They are down the side of the fish, it looks black with a little white around the sides. I believe they always have 3 or 4 of them down the side. If it was a trash fish I think you would have been able to taste it when you ate it.

 

At least you enjoyed it. As for the snakeheads they are very delicious. Google the Northern Snakehead and you will be amazed how much there skin pattern looks like a snake.

 

Jay-

[J Francho]

It's a snake head.

 

[CountBassula]

It's a snake head.

 

 

In that case, never mind :-) Thanks for the info!

[BassinLou]

Snakehead for sure.

[piscicidal]

Well, looks like I have to make an official correction to this thread: THE FISH I CAUGHT WAS A BOWFIN, NOT A SNAKEHEAD.

 

You can tell by the eyespot on the tail, apparently they are often mistaken for snakeheads and are considered trash fish and not tasty at all...

 

Darn do I feel stupid now...

 

That is definitely a snakehead.  

 

They are good eating, but I would limit how much you consume.  Especially if it came from a residential canal.

[CountBassula]

That is definitely a snakehead.  

 

They are good eating, but I would limit how much you consume.  Especially if it came from a residential canal.

 

 I don't plan on eating many, nor often :-) I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Plus as I mentioned in my OP, it had parasites (roundworms) which are not a problem if you cook it well (which I did, for like 20 minutes in hot oil, just to be sure :-), but still don't want to take that risk to often. after preparation I cleaned the whole area with clorox wipes and all.

 

 

WDinarte, i caught this one from the bank in a canal, and i notice they all sit withing a foot or two of the bank's edge. they like to hang out in shallow water and in/near vegetation.

[WDinarte]

WDinarte, i caught this one from the bank in a canal, and i notice they all sit withing a foot or two of the bank's edge. they like to hang out in shallow water and in/near vegetation.

 

Thanks, I will give a shot this year, never see any around my fishing spots but I will move to see IF I found a good potential area.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

Ya, definitely a snakehead. 

[fsuboy99]

The easiest way is to notice the ring down at the bottom snake heads have the ring bowfin have nothing and arnt good to eat cause there "mud fish"

[J Francho]

The easiest way is to notice the ring down at the bottom snake heads have the ring bowfin have nothing and arnt good to eat cause there "mud fish"

 

Male bowfin have a spot at the base of the tail.  "Mudfish" is just a colloqial name, and has zero to do with flavor.  They are a predator, and eat other fish.  They are good eating if caught in early spring.

 

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Male bowfin have a spot at the base of the tail.  "Mudfish" is just a colloqial name, and has zero to do with flavor.  They are a predator, and eat other fish.  They are good eating if caught in early spring.

 

 

 

I was curious and a little ignorant. Why would the fish taste different in different seasons? I have never caught seen in real life or tried eating a bowfin before. I know catfish like to hang out in mud and when fried up correctly are quite tasteful. The snakeheads up here in Va hang out in some muck too and I have never eaten a better fresh water fish.

 

 

Jay-

[shallow thinker]

Yours was a snakehead for sure.   If you want to see some really big snakeheads then come to the next roundup (May 11 2pm ) which weighs in at the boat ramp on Rock Island Road and Southgate.  The guys at JD's custom baits sponsor it and go to their website for details.  A FWC biologist often comes for weigh in and he can tell you lots about their size and range.  This link has some good advice for catching South Florida snakeheads http://www.jdscustombaits.com/Snakeheads%21.php

[J Francho]

I was curious and a little ignorant. Why would the fish taste different in different seasons? I have never caught seen in real life or tried eating a bowfin before. I know catfish like to hang out in mud and when fried up correctly are quite tasteful. The snakeheads up here in Va hang out in some muck too and I have never eaten a better fresh water fish.

 

 

 

Jay-

 

Cold water = more oxygen in the water, better blood flow in the fish, and less lactic acid, which usually means better flavor. That isn't true with all species though.

[Diggy]

P.S. After I took the meet of the bones, I decided to play surgeon... I dissected the guts and  discovered two interesting things: 1) remains of what looked like a crawfish and lizards.

bu bu but, they are destroying bass populations!!!! Im glad you did this as with the other 128 snakehead the fwc opened up, no bass were found inside, unlike the peacock bass that had both bass and snakehead in it.

 

I always release them back into the wild due to my..  countless... I mean  hundreds of  hours of research in the wild 

 

 

[CountBassula]

bu bu but, they are destroying bass populations!!!! Im glad you did this as with the other 128 snakehead the fwc opened up, no bass were found inside, unlike the peacock bass that had both bass and snakehead in it.

 

I always release them back into the wild due to my..  countless... I mean  hundreds of  hours of research in the wild 

 

 

 

is that you in the video? looks like a lot of snakeheads were caught that day!

 

i need to learn how to take the meet off the fish better, i learned the hard way to play surgeon AFTER taking the fillets off :-(

 

you do fish in coral springs right? that's where I live, N of Atlantic and S of Royal Palm, W of University :-) maybe we can snakehead fish some day.

[Tim Cianciola]

you def caught a snakehead, ive caught many bowfin. never ate them tho some say they arent bad some say they are trash.

[Diggy]

is that you in the video? looks like a lot of snakeheads were caught that day!

 

i need to learn how to take the meet off the fish better, i learned the hard way to play surgeon AFTER taking the fillets off :-(

 

you do fish in coral springs right? that's where I live, N of Atlantic and S of Royal Palm, W of University :-) maybe we can snakehead fish some day.

No thats the guy from JD custom baits. They always throw the snakehead roundups. They should be coming up again soon enough. Might be a good thing to try.

 

I fish in that area alot as do many of my friends. Maybe a bunch of us can hit some spots one day.

[BP10]

i think im going to do that snakehead roundup  sounds like fun and they are fishing it in my back yard at the c-14

[theonethatgotaway]

yep thats is a snakehead