Potomac River Snakehead Fishing

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

I fish out of pohick bay and mason neck park from my kayak.  Any suggestions on snakeheads in this area?  I catch tons of bass, and a fair share of catfish on lures, but as of yet not one snakehead.  I've fished back into cane creek, little cane creek, and so far no luck.  Do they like certain types of grass over others?  Anyways, any help would be appreciated.  I may just be fishing too deep most of the time.

Most likely you are fishing to deep. Most snakeheads I catch are in 3fow or less with 90% being in 2' or less. I have caught them as shollow as 4-6" of water. They seem to be more active early in the A.M. or late afternoon. High tide going out is a very awesome time as the snakeheads seem to get way up on the bank tucked into shore grass and the dropping tide pushes them out. Most important thing is areas not completely effected by tides, like areas with more slack water out of the current.

Hope that helps.

p.s. From a kayak I would imagine it would be hard to sight fish which in my opinion is the most fun.

Jay

[Brick]

Most likely you are fishing to deep. Most snakeheads I catch are in 3fow or less with 90% being in 2' or less. I have caught them as shollow as 4-6" of water. They seem to be more active early in the A.M. or late afternoon. High tide going out is a very awesome time as the snakeheads seem to get way up on the bank tucked into shore grass and the dropping tide pushes them out. Most important thing is areas not completely effected by tides, like areas with more slack water out of the current.

Hope that helps.

p.s. From a kayak I would imagine it would be hard to sight fish which in my opinion is the most fun.

Jay

Actually, I have a wilderness systems ride 135 kayak.  Very good boat for standing.  A little too windy to stand today, but i managed to snag a 23" snakehead today!  First one!  Great fight.  Knew it wasn't a bass or a cat the second I hooked it.  Smoked it on the smoker, and it was delicious!  Caught him on a chatterbait real shallow.  Also, there was some talk of stomach contents earlier.  This one had a 10" snake in its belly!  Couldn't tell the species as it was half digested.  I've got pics on my friends phone.  I'll try and post them when he gets them to me.  I guess reading this thread answered my own questions.  Thanks guys!  

[Brick]

Most likely you are fishing to deep. Most snakeheads I catch are in 3fow or less with 90% being in 2' or less. I have caught them as shollow as 4-6" of water. They seem to be more active early in the A.M. or late afternoon. High tide going out is a very awesome time as the snakeheads seem to get way up on the bank tucked into shore grass and the dropping tide pushes them out. Most important thing is areas not completely effected by tides, like areas with more slack water out of the current.

Hope that helps.

p.s. From a kayak I would imagine it would be hard to sight fish which in my opinion is the most fun.

Jay

Actually, I have a wilderness systems ride 135 kayak.  Very good boat for standing.  A little too windy to stand today, but i managed to snag a 23" snakehead today!  First one!  Great fight.  Knew it wasn't a bass or a cat the second I hooked it.  Smoked it on the smoker, and it was delicious!  Caught him on a chatterbait real shallow.  Also, there was some talk of stomach contents earlier.  This one had a 10" snake in its belly!  Couldn't tell the species as it was half digested.  I've got pics on my friends phone.  I'll try and post them when he gets them to me.  I guess reading this thread answered my own questions.  Thanks guys!  

[Brick]

Weird.  It double posted, and didn't include the pic I attached.  Lets try this again.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Weird.  It double posted, and didn't include the pic I attached.  Lets try this again.

Congrats man!!! Good one!

[MDBowHunter]

My brother and myself are going to head down and try and catch a few this Sunday. Any good reports.

[D805]

Nice one!!

[dbeam]

This is a really great post.  It has gotten my interest peaked, I hope to get chance to bring the yak out that way and try for one of those. They have really beautiful markings.  I have caught a few bowfin which fight like an anger pit bull.   If you were planning a trip what time of would be the best. Is there any campgrounds in the area.

 

Thanks

Darrell

[Greeneye8181]

Most likely you are fishing to deep. Most snakeheads I catch are in 3fow or less with 90% being in 2' or less. I have caught them as shollow as 4-6" of water. They seem to be more active early in the A.M. or late afternoon. High tide going out is a very awesome time as the snakeheads seem to get way up on the bank tucked into shore grass and the dropping tide pushes them out. Most important thing is areas not completely effected by tides, like areas with more slack water out of the current.

Hope that helps.

p.s. From a kayak I would imagine it would be hard to sight fish which in my opinion is the most fun.

Jay

 

The Snakehead's aren't biting for some reason. I went out with the Snakehead shockers on Tuesday and they scooped up 16 I believe it was. Almost all of them had empty stomachs. Like 2 maybe had one small fish.

They said it's been the norm lately. They aren't feeding.

The biggest we pulled out of Aquia Creek was 13 pounds. Big ugly one.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

The Snakehead's aren't biting for some reason. I went out with the Snakehead shockers on Tuesday and they scooped up 16 I believe it was. Almost all of them had empty stomachs. Like 2 maybe had one small fish.

They said it's been the norm lately. They aren't feeding.

The biggest we pulled out of Aquia Creek was 13 pounds. Big ugly one.

Caught my PB this year of 17lbs. Other than that it's been extremely slow snakehead fishing. Caught a few other dinks (5-8lb range, lol.) Caught my PB on a drop shot in 6 FOW and heavy current, for what it's worth. All fish I've caught have also had empty stomachs, with the exception of a killifish or 2.

[Greeneye8181]

17? Yikes thats a monster. My eyes got pretty big when they netted that 13 pounder. 

My PB is 9lbs. Had to cut his head off to get my frog back!!

I was interested to hear them say that the larger ones are male. Not what I'm used to hearing about fish. Usually the females are the big ones. 

Weird how they aren't eating... they should be done spawning (we also found a "nursery". They netted about 50 juvenile's and put them in a bucket). I wonder what it is.

[Deleted account]

Hey guys, a couple of quick questions on SHs. Has this year been much slower than in the past (here on the Potomac) or is it just me? Also with soft plastics, do you think color makes a difference? Particularly as it concerns different  light levels/time of day. I'm headed out this week, and I don't have a solid plan, other than frogs.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Hey guys, a couple of quick questions on SHs. Has this year been much slower than in the past (here on the Potomac) or is it just me? Also with soft plastics, do you think color makes a difference? Particularly as it concerns different  light levels/time of day. I'm headed out this week, and I don't have a solid plan, other than frogs.

This year has seemed to be slower for reaction bites with all of the fish species I target, snakeheads included. I have not caught one snakehead this year on a spinnerbait, buzzbait, frog, crankbaits, etc. I have caught several on finesse presentations in natural colors. Caught my pb on a dropshot with a 3" Havoc Sick Fish in Green Penny, and others on soft plastics. Most recently I caught a 5lber on a wacky rigged 5" senko in baby bass, fish struck the lure about 5' from the boat. Caught one earlier this year on a night crawler while catfishing at night too. 

 

They're definitely still there. I see them often, catch them less often, and watch bow hunters shoot them too often. They really seem to feed more agressively in late summer/early fall, as well as in the spring when the water temps reach the high 40's low 50's.

 

When I'm going after snakeheads I fish the usual frogging areas and flip/pitch a jig or soft plastic, and fish it as slow as I can stand to. Punching can also be productive.

[Sam]

Snakeheads can really fight.

I get so excited when I have one on thinking it is one of those large Potomac bass.

[Greeneye8181]

This year has seemed to be slower for reaction bites with all of the fish species I target, snakeheads included. I have not caught one snakehead this year on a spinnerbait, buzzbait, frog, crankbaits, etc. I have caught several on finesse presentations in natural colors. Caught my pb on a dropshot with a 3" Havoc Sick Fish in Green Penny, and others on soft plastics. Most recently I caught a 5lber on a wacky rigged 5" senko in baby bass, fish struck the lure about 5' from the boat. Caught one earlier this year on a night crawler while catfishing at night too. 

 

They're definitely still there. I see them often, catch them less often, and watch bow hunters shoot them too often. They really seem to feed more agressively in late summer/early fall, as well as in the spring when the water temps reach the high 40's low 50's.

 

When I'm going after snakeheads I fish the usual frogging areas and flip/pitch a jig or soft plastic, and fish it as slow as I can stand to. Punching can also be productive.

 

I've done good this year with Bass. As far as numbers go. Size-wise I haven't caught one over 3lbs this year. Where are the big ones?!

Snakehead fishing has been slow.

 

Good info SHW

[DrDSays]

 

the fishing has been pretty good for me on Aquia Creek and Potomac Creek.  A top water, pumpkin seed, weedless, popper frog is the best color I have found.  Buzz baits that are bright orange are working on the outside edges of the weed beds and lily pad lines.  But top water is my favorite just love that explosive hit that these guys do!

 

Anyone have any info on the toxic or pollution levels on these fish?  Or where can I read more on general pollution levels in the river?  How much heavy metal crap and hormones (from those Birth Control factories up river) are in these great tasting fish?  Only eating 2-3 lbs a month right now and taking my detox vitamins.  (I am a nutritionist).

 

Dr D

www.DrDSays.net  check out my radio show

[DrDSays]

Here are two nice ones from Potomac Creek. about 10-12 lbs each.

 

Dr D

 

 

[Snakehead Whisperer]

 

Anyone have any info on the toxic or pollution levels on these fish?  Or where can I read more on general pollution levels in the river?  How much heavy metal crap and hormones (from those Birth Control factories up river) are in these great tasting fish?  Only eating 2-3 lbs a month right now and taking my detox vitamins.  (I am a nutritionist).

 

While this is a bit outdated, it gives you a good overview of what is in the river.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/2233/report.pdf

 

My guess is that it would be safe to adhere to the bass consumption advisories for whatever stretch of the river you are catching the snakeheads. I've heard anecdotal stuff about how snakeheads don't have the high levels of PCB's because they grow so quickly, etc... but this doesn't sound plausible, as they are top predators and eat just about everything in the river. I've never seen a scientific study conducted which determined the levels of metals or other pollutants in the flesh of snakeheads out here. 

 

There have been several studies on what forage species the snakehead eats, which could help you make a more informed decision. Can't find the article now, but I posted it earlier in this thread IIRC.

 

:edit: Found the article here. 

[Traveler2586]

 

 

WTOP, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There's a new incentive to go out and catch a nasty-looking fish nicknamed the "Frankenfish" in Maryland.

For years, Maryland has documented record-size catches of dozens of different sport fish caught in its waters.

Now, the state has started awarding records for catching several invasive species including the Northern Snakehead.

And interestingly, the first state record for a snakehead was held for only a few hours.

It was a 16.78 pound fish caught June 1 in Pomonkey Creek by Jay Berry of Chesapeake Beach. Not long after, another snakehead was officially weighed in at 16.94 pounds. That one was caught in Mattawoman Creek by Teddy McKenzie of Upper Marlboro. Both fishermen are getting plaques to reward them for their record- setting catches.

 

Read more at:  http://wtop.com/46/3668557/New-incentives-to-catch-a-Frankenfish-in-Maryland

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

WTOP, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There's a new incentive to go out and catch a nasty-looking fish nicknamed the "Frankenfish" in Maryland.

For years, Maryland has documented record-size catches of dozens of different sport fish caught in its waters.

Now, the state has started awarding records for catching several invasive species including the Northern Snakehead.

And interestingly, the first state record for a snakehead was held for only a few hours.

It was a 16.78 pound fish caught June 1 in Pomonkey Creek by Jay Berry of Chesapeake Beach. Not long after, another snakehead was officially weighed in at 16.94 pounds. That one was caught in Mattawoman Creek by Teddy McKenzie of Upper Marlboro. Both fishermen are getting plaques to reward them for their record- setting catches.

Read more at: http://wtop.com/46/3668557/New-incentives-to-catch-a-Frankenfish-in-Maryland

People jump on this opportunity there are bigger ones out there!!! I had one I know would have been close to 20lbs if not over but it got off :'(. !!! Get you some!!!

J-

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

PO'd ....Confirmed and official there are snakeheads on the Occoquan reservoir now. One was caught during today's tournament. Although it is legal to catch and release now please kill and eat them or give them away dead!!! transporting them alive is still illegal.

J-

[Snakehead Whisperer]

PO'd ....Confirmed and official there are snakeheads on the Occoquan reservoir now. One was caught during today's tournament. Although it is legal to catch and release now please kill and eat them or give them away dead!!! transporting them alive is still illegal.

J-

Whoa... that's heavy. 

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Whoa... that's heavy. 

It was a matter of time I know.  It just urks me that I feel someone put it there.

 

J-

[Snakehead Whisperer]

It was a matter of time I know. It just urks me that I feel someone put it there.

J-

I can't imagine that they could breach the dam. It could be something as simple as a duck transporting eggs from the river to the reservoir on it's feet. I'd like to think that people weren't involved, but who knows?

[Traveler2586]

PO'd ....Confirmed and official there are snakeheads on the Occoquan reservoir now. One was caught during today's tournament. Although it is legal to catch and release now please kill and eat them or give them away dead!!! transporting them alive is still illegal.

J-

X2,

 

However, to the best of my knowledge Catch & Release of Snakeheads is only in Va. waters, not in Maryland.  Maps show the PRFC boundary markers for the main Potomac if your interested in where the Va. waters end.