snakehead drama

[done]

So anyone else catch the NGC hooked on snakehead?

For those of you fishing in regions with bigger populations (VA, DC), what do you make of the assertion that these things will attack swimmers and such? Is that a real threat or just made for TV drama?

[.dsaavedra.]

that show was made several years ago right after their introduction when there was a lot of hype.

things have really calmed down and they've had little to NO impact on the potomac whatsoever. also most of the rumors have been cleared up and weren't nearly as bad as suspected.

and they don't attack people, thats just silly  :

[Dan:]

try a search, you should find a lot of stuff about this topic including direct answers to your questions.

[ptomacbass]

It's drama, they are probablly the most docile fish in the Potomac.

[done]

That's what i figured. I would think if they attacked folks on a regular basis, there would be a larger push to get rid of them.

I had googled it but found a mix of stuff figured I would rather hear it from our folks on here. At least I know the folks on here are gonna be non-dramatic about it. I hear they are awesome to eat.

[.dsaavedra.]

I hear they are awesome to eat.

thats why they're here  :

[ptomacbass]

They are awesome to eat, fried Snakehead is my favorite food.

[SimonSays]

It's drama, they are probablly the most docile fish in the Potomac.

Seriously? I hope you mean docile to humans cause they are wreaking havok on the ecosystem.  They're extremely aggressive fish, if you've ever felt one slam a top water lure you'd know...

[ptomacbass]

It's drama, they are probablly the most docile fish in the Potomac.

Seriously? I hope you mean docile to humans cause they are wreaking havok on the ecosystem. They're extremely aggressive fish, if you've ever felt one slam a top water lure you'd know...

They seem very docile, they feed rarely and are very picky.  They are also very scared of humans.  Why are they wreaking havoc on the ecosystem?  I have noticed no changes since the Snakeheads were introduced.

[Slip Gun]

Anyone who was with me and my buddy in the canoe when we were fishing at around 11 at night watching all the snakeheads swimming around would not call them docile.

I have never seen anything like it. They were feeding left and right and they were feeding hard. Had some big ones run into the boat and jump outa the water it was pretty creepy.  

[Micro]

What were they feeding on?  

[Slip Gun]

Couldn't really tell it was dark. They were all around the surface and they were making huge jumps every now and then from lower down.

[Micro]

I'm still wanting to make a trip up there to catch some of these fish.  None down here in southeast Virginia.  

[Dan:]

I'm still wanting to make a trip up there to catch some of these fish. None down here in southeast Virginia.

You got a boat? I know where to launch to catch some... 8-)

[ptomacbass]

Maybe they feed more at night.  I don't know though, I have never seem them being aggressive, they seem very shy.  Did you see them in June, were they just gulping air?

[Slip Gun]

Week and a half ago maybe two weeks ago. And they seem to come out after dark is well set. Then they come up to the surface we were out Sunday and we saw a good 3-4 of em swimming around for a while.

They were not near as exciting as they were as that time though.

[NewAngler]

i'd love to catch one of those scoundrels.

[looking4structure]

I would love to fish waters that had these monsters.Whats the best bait to catch them.Artificial or live bait?

[Slip Gun]

Supposedly slow run spinners, buzz baits, and frogs have been producing.

I highly suspect live bait will produce as well but never tried.

However I have not caught one so this is just hearsay.

When they dissect them apparently they do find a lot of frogs in their stomach.

[Olebiker]

I watched In-Fisherman Critical Concepts last night and they were fishing for bullseye snakeheads in South Florida.  The fools were throwing them back.

[David T.]

I live down here in NC (A few hundred miles south of DC for the geographically challenged), and spotted a dead snakehead on the edge of the river on a fly fishing trip one day.  It had been bled out by a fishermen on the bank.

[Dan:]

I live down here in NC (A few hundred miles south of DC for the geographically challenged), and spotted a dead snakehead on the edge of the river on a fly fishing trip one day. It had been bled out by a fishermen on the bank.

are you certain it was a snakehead and not a bowfin? they look very similar.

[Carmen J Bernardo]

   I recall reading that the biggest concern about snakeheads is that, as an invasive species in mid-Atlantic coastal rivers and lakes, they're basically eating all the forage that native predators would be feeding on.  It's the same concern about pythons in Florida right now, where some of the big snakes will even attempt to eat full-grown alligators.

   My guess is that maybe the native species are starting to cope and might even have figured out that a snakehead is a pretty good meal, if they can nail one while it's still small or can get around those teeth.  Perhaps the alligators will realize the same thing about the pythons.

[Bassn Blvd]

Bullseye Snakehead - Channa marulius

Description: Air-breathing, torpedo-shaped fish with flattened head and toothed jaws; long anal and dorsal fins without spines; typically red eyes; body color darkens with age to deep brown with black blotches sometimes fringed with bright comma-shaped markings, and a red-orange eyespot (ocellus) near the base of the tail. It resembles a bowfin in behavior and appearance, but is distinguished by a long anal fin.

Range: The Bullseye Snakehead remain centered in the Margate/Coral Springs/Pompano Beach area where it was first documented in October 2000.  They will likely be limited to the southern half of Florida since temperatures below 50oF are lethal. To the south this population is bounded by the North New River Canal (G-15), L-36 Canal to the west, and the Hillsboro Canal (G-08) to the north.  This is the only area from which Snakeheads have been documented, although FWC has received numerous reports of Bullseye Snakehead elsewhere these have all turned out to be similar-looking native fishes such as the Bowfin.  Native range Pakistan, Malaysia, and southern China.

Habitat: In canals, typically associated with overhanging shoreline vegetation, dense submersed vegetation, and debris; tolerant of stagnant waters due to air-breathing capabilities.

Spawning Habitats: Spawn primarily from March through May with a secondary peak in August; adults occasionally seen herding young in shallows until six inches long; a sample of ripe females contained an average of 4,700 ready to spawn eggs.

Feeding Habits: Bottom dwelling, ambush predator that feeds primarily on small fish and crayfish, but occasionally eats a wide variety of prey including turtles, toads, lizards, snakes, and insects.

Age and Growth: Largest collected in Florida by FWC was 31.5 inches and weighed 9.2 pounds; reports of this species commonly growing to more than four feet and weights of 66 pounds erroneous; largest likely to get about 15 pounds.

Sporting Quality: Good; have been caught on jerk baits and live baits; a popular sportfish in its native range; no bag or size limits.

Snakehead News Release

Edibility: Excellent; even said to have medicinal benefits in its native range by hastening the healing of wounds and internal injuries.

State Record: N/A

[Dan:]

I recall reading that the biggest concern about snakeheads is that, as an invasive species in mid-Atlantic coastal rivers and lakes, they're basically eating all the forage that native predators would be feeding on. It's the same concern about pythons in Florida right now, where some of the big snakes will even attempt to eat full-grown alligators.

My guess is that maybe the native species are starting to cope and might even have figured out that a snakehead is a pretty good meal, if they can nail one while it's still small or can get around those teeth. Perhaps the alligators will realize the same thing about the pythons.

They have never found bass in the stomachs of killed snakeheads. They have, however, found many bass with baby snakeheads in their bellies.