Snakehead fishing in South Florida - looking for boatless locations without trespassing

[bostonsox2904]

On 11/30/2019 at 4:55 PM, Kevin1985124 said:

I really want to catch snakeheads. Are you able to share the spot where it's guarantee for me to catch something? PM me maybe?

There's like 4 or 5 spots in the response you quoted! Check out google maps, pick a handful of spots in those areas, and check them out. If you pick any of the spots mentioned above and cover ground, I know you'll find fish. The key is to cover ground. Good luck!

[gnappi]

If SH are there, and you:

 

A. don't spook them by walking up to the water like a hippo.

B. Use appropriate tackle.

C. Keep your mind on the techniques/baits and comments Mhan and myself noted you won't lose them.

 

"ALMOST" ANY CANAL off Sample road west of 441 has snakeheads. Many of the smallest only 8 or 10 feet wide are the best, and most often overlooked by fishermen. 

 

One exception... The N-S running canal next to the Sample road burger king is fished hard, the SH ignore me there. 

 

[Short]

I don't get to fish much. I've only seen one SH, a pretty large one. Sawgrass Trailhead at Atlantic Blvd, sitting right by the culvert that goes under the gravel ramp. It's a busy spot, but there's a lot of fish there, even tarpon. If you see a guy in a wheelchair, say hello. Word around here is Lemon Tree Lake Park is good for SH, but you have to sneak up on the water, as there's not much cover. 

 

[George125]

Hey I just moved down to West Palm, Florida and stumbled upon this goldmine of SH info in this chat. It's always been a dream of mine to catch a snakehead and I've tried with zero success a few time already. Weird request but would anyone in this chat be up to take me along next time they go? I'll pay for the guidance if thats what it takes!

[Woody B]

Here in NC Snakehead are considered an invasive species.  I haven't seen or heard of any.  There's posters at most landings, and on the NC Wildlife Resource Commission web site showing the difference between a Bowfin and Snakehead.  It says if you catch a Snakehead don't release it.  You're supposed to freeze it or put it on ice and call a certain phone number.  This refers to "Northern" Snakehead.  Is this the same species that's in Florida?    I suppose they haven't made it up here in large numbers yet.   

 

A few decades ago I used to go to Florida racing every November.  There was a canal around Moroso Motorsports Park (West Palm) that was full of big bass and gators.   I've caught bass as big as 8 pounds in a canal that wasn't over 20 feet wide.   I suppose those canals would have Snakehead now.

 

 

Moroso Motorsports park was renamed Palm Beach International Raceway a while back, but I believe it's been sold to a real estate developer now, and is no longer a race track.   

[Seaworthy81]

On 7/29/2022 at 3:39 PM, George125 said:

Hey I just moved down to West Palm, Florida and stumbled upon this goldmine of SH info in this chat. It's always been a dream of mine to catch a snakehead and I've tried with zero success a few time already. Weird request but would anyone in this chat be up to take me along next time they go? I'll pay for the guidance if thats what it takes!

 

Hey George, 

 

I'm a little further south than you in Coral Springs but might be interested. If you want to come down my way I have a handful of spots where I see and get blowups on the frog almost every time this time of year. I also have a handful of canals I've been eying on google earth up your way that I wouldn't mind walking, but I don't know for sure if there are worthwhile or not yet, just a hunch but wouldn't mind checking them out. 

 

Tacklewise all you need is a MH/H bass rod and 40-50lb braid, a package of buzz frogs or 4-5" swimbaits and 4/0 HD swimbait hooks - or some hollow body frogs, although I find the hookup ratio on hollow bodies is horrible for me. It does require long, accurate casting and it doesn't hurt if you know how to skip a bait at certain spots. 

On 7/29/2022 at 3:39 PM, George125 said:

Hey I just moved down to West Palm, Florida and stumbled upon this goldmine of SH info in this chat. It's always been a dream of mine to catch a snakehead and I've tried with zero success a few time already. Weird request but would anyone in this chat be up to take me along next time they go? I'll pay for the guidance if thats what it takes!

If you want to pay for guidance, there are some really good guides who will definitely be better than me BTW. I can recommend some names if that's you preference. They will for sure have better spots than me as well as likely put you on much larger fish. My spots seem to top out around 5lbs so far. 

[roadwarrior]

Nice offer!

 

[ATodd9]

Just came across this thread forum and it has some awesome info on it. I have lived in Central FL my whole life and have just gotten into the South FL exotics in the past three years or so. Started with Peas, but I caught my first couple Snakes in Davie back in May and June and now I have the bug to chase Snakes. 

I have been doing tons of research and it seems like there is a lot of info lacking on Snakeheads here in FL. It seems like these fish are still pretty new and mysterious to us, while we are still figuring them out. I am trying to figure out smaller behavior patterns like which times of year they bite best, which times of day (or night) that they bite best, how they are affected by rainy days and moon phases, if they prefer sunshine or cloud cover, if they bite better or if they are sluggish during spawning times, etc. 

There are some people on this thread that have been doing this a lot longer than I have and have picked up some great info on them. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm looking for any bits of behavioral info that I can get about these crazy fish. Anything that I can learn about their patterns before I make those 3 hour trips down there to chase the Snakes. 

 

Thanks in advance, Austin

 

[Seaworthy81]

The only thing I have figured out so far is that if I take a light rod looking for peas I see more snakehead, if I take the heavier rod looking for snakehead I see more peas! 

 

I have not been able to pattern the snakeheads or really any of the canal fish very well yet. Sometimes when its rainy and cloudy the snakes seem more active, but that doesn't seem to be 100% yet. 

 

They are definitely more active when its warm out, but I have caught them even after mild cold fronts as long as its not prolonged or if its warmed back up. I haven't night fished them so I cant help there. 

 

I did set a new PB snakehead for myself the other day after seeing two monsters while fishing peas. I went to a different canal that I normally see lots of snakehead at, walked it up and back for 0 bites or chases and was pretty discouraged, saw lots of super active Peas and figured the rule I wrote above was kicking my butt once again, was about to call it quits but on one of what would have been my last little pocket of fishable water got a monster bite on the chatterbait and the fish went airborn! After a few seconds of chaos I was able to flip the 7lber up on the bank. 

 

I fish a frog a lot, but all my largest snakeheads have been on an underspin or now a chatterbait, and all basically on the sink from a well placed cast. I still fish the frog a lot for obvious reasons though. 

 

Hope that helps! 

[ATodd9]

That is some great info and definitely appreciate it! It is fun trying to figure out such a crazy fish. 

 

Had a chance to drive down this past weekend and fish for about a day and a half. Came away with 7 Snakes on the frog and 10 Peacocks on the jerkbait. It's good to be down there and figure them out a little more.  Looking forward to making another trip down there. 

 

I appreciate the info!

 

[Seaworthy81]

Nice score! Sounds like I should be taking tips from you!

[Captain Phil]

All species of Florida Snakehead are illegal to possess live in the state of Florida. Possession of live Snakehead is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine or 60 days in jail. Florida law also makes it a crime for anyone to release any exotic fish into state waters.