Latest Issue Of Virginia Wildlife: Northern Snakeheads

[Dan:]

Here are a few that I've caught this summer.

[Rocky1965]

Here are a few that I've caught this summer.

NICE!!!

DAN where'd you catch those?

[quanjig]

I know!!

[Bigbarge50]

KIllin it Dan, nice work. Think I in the same boat as everyone, would love details. The details I am interested in is less where or how, but lbs and how was the fight!

Any end of summer sale happening at your store sometime soon?

[Dan:]

weights were about 6#,9#, and 5# respectively. All were caught on rage tail toads if I recall correctly. They were caught in various shallow creeks off the Potomac.

I caught them all in shallow water choked by weeds or lilies. They all hit the bait with a vengeance but after that not much more than a few seconds of fight.

Probably gonna be a while before tackle gets marked down to clearance. It only happens once a year now. If it works like last year, we'll have an additional sale from the clearance prices late in the year.

[VABasser]

I'll admit I've become addicted to catching snakeheads this summer. The last couple weeks I've gone out I've purely been snakeheadin, although you always catch some bass doing it. I never used to like catching them, too much of a bother or they would break you off. I'd just kill them and throw them back. But I heard too much about them being good to eat, so about a month ago I kept one and filleted it. No surprise they are great to eat. Before even targeting them, I was catching a lot more this year than in the past. Caught a few on traps in the spring, chatterbaits, I caught one about 11 lbs on a senko pretty early in the summer and having that thing pull drag like it did helped fuel my desire to catch a bigger one. The past 2 weeks is when I went out for the first time telling myself I was only going to fish for snakeheads. It's addicting. You get one of them 10lbs plus leaping out of the water and pulling drag, it's a rush. Dan you're right, sometimes though they are just dead weight on the end of the line. I saw that about two weeks ago with two I saw up shallow swimming around an area in circles. I guess guarding fry or protecting a bed or something? I picked them both off with a spro, but considering one was about 10.5lbs and the other 6, they didn't fight much at all. Once they got to the boat they thrashed around some, but no big leaps or runs. I just figured that they were worn out from spawning or whatever it was they were doing.

I've just been throwing assorted brands/color frogs for them (river 2 sea, spro, snag proof). Black is what I've thrown the most. Generally a slower retrieve with pauses. Shallow up in grass (hydrilla mostly up that shallow) like everyone else has said they are there. It can be slow sometimes just throwin that frog over and over, but if you throw it long enough you are bound to get one. And when you get a big one on, it's worth it. Be rigged up properly though unless you want to lose a bunch of baits. I lost 3 frogs to them by them cutting through my braid before I said enough and went and bought 40lb saltwater mono leader. I had a knot fail on a big 10lbs+ one a couple days ago, but other than that, no more lost baits with that leader. Keep a close eye out if you're fishin for them. As always in fishing polarized glasses are a must. Sometimes you can see them suspended near the surface. Or sometimes you'll see their big dorsal fins fanning out of the water. Not really sure what they are doing when I see that, I've thrown to them, but they dont seem to hit when they are doing that. I'd like to compare some more notes about fishin for them with some of yall who've fished for them. Maybe learn some more about their habits so we can catch more. Here's a couple pictures of some I've caught lately. I've got 3 over 10 pounds in the boat this summer, broke 2 definite over 10 off hard to judge size beyond that, but I haven't broken that 12lb mark. That is kind of the mark I set for myself. Hopefully a couple more trips and I can break that.

[Rocky1965]

Hell!!! now thats the way to do it!

[Dan:]

Awesome fish VABasser!

[steveb1]

I've caught a few Snakehead this year and last. Common patterns - very shallow weedy still water. They will attack just about anything that moves near them, so save your expensive frogs and throw plastics. Pretty much anything rigged weedless, but I use buzz frogs that can be presented in a variety of ways, buzz it across the top of the grass, or let sink into the holes, or twitch along the bottom. Target very very very shallow water, over two feet and you're too deep.

[Traveler2586]

I've caught a few Snakehead this year and last. Common patterns - very shallow weedy still water. They will attack just about anything that moves near them, so save your expensive frogs and throw plastics. Pretty much anything rigged weedless, but I use buzz frogs that can be presented in a variety of ways, buzz it across the top of the grass, or let sink into the holes, or twitch along the bottom. Target very very very shallow water, over two feet and you're too deep.

I agree, save your good stuff, IMHO, Snakehead will hit anything that moves near them, you could tie a hook to a stick of driftwood and get one. I got a 3 lb one on a black and white jitterbug one evening. As quoted, use common Bass patterns and baits; very shallow, still or slow moving water, along the weed-line and in the pockets. I think they get deeper in the weeds during the stronger current. Once I watched a SH come up from behind my frog like it was sniffing it, I twitched the bait and the SN got interested, I twitched again and it took the bait. I don't see much action from them until they see my boat.

Cheers, Eric

[Traveler2586]

According to Virginias game and fish:

Quote

Anglers are not required to report Snakehead nor are they required to kill them if caught, but the Department asks that the fish be reported and killed if possible. However, if an angler wishes to keep a legally caught northern Snakehead, the fish must be killed to be in possession, and the angler must call the hotline and report the angler's last name, date of catch, location of catch and size. Kill the fish by:

This is a little confusing. This pass summer (2011) I had a boat side inspection from a MD DNR officer, and after seeing a blood stain on my carpet he asked if I had caught a Snakehead, I had. I said they were so #@*& messy I feel like just cutting the hook; he said "if you catch it, you kill it",...."If you have it in your boat (within your gunnel's) you have possession of it".... "do not release a live Snakehead".

This is what I've been going by, can we now release a live Snakehead back into the water?

Cheers, Eric

[tomustang]

Well you'd have to check the 2012 book since my post was cited last year. In your case though the officer was wrong since written law is rule, mistakes happen though

[Traveler2586]

Well you'd have to check the 2012 book since my post was cited last year. In your case though the officer was wrong since written law is rule, mistakes happen though

I went to the MD DNR home page and found the following in the 2012 MD Fishing Guide

"

Please Catch and Kill Snakeheads

The non-native Northern Snakehead population is thriving in the Potomac River and its tributaries after

being illegally introduced several years ago.

Maryland fishing regulations allow the keeping of snakeheads, so long as the fish is immediately killed and

its head removed, or the fish is gutted, or the gill arches removed, or the fish is filleted. The capture and

possession of dead and dismembered snakeheads is not subject to any season, creel limit or size limit.

DNR asks anglers to report any snakeheads caught outside of the Potomac River and it tributaries or

upstream of Great Falls by contacting Don Cosden at

dcosden@dnr.state.md.us or call (410) 260-8287. This will

help DNR track the expansion of the species.

Anglers in Virginia waters who catch snakeheads in any

waters must immediately kill the fish and report the catch

to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fish hot

line (804) 367-2925.

Federal law prohibits the import of live snakeheads to the

U.S. or across state lines without a permit from the US Fish

and Wildlife Service.

If you catch a northern snakehead with a blue tag, please

report it to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at (800) 448-

8322." end quote

[tomustang]

Must have gotten worse since its now kill on sight. It would be nice if they made tournaments out of the species and gave some prizes out, perhaps even allow free state licensing in help curb the growing problem

[Traveler2586]

Must have gotten worse since its now kill on sight. It would be nice if they made tournaments out of the species and gave some prizes out, perhaps even allow free state licensing in help curb the growing problem

From reading MD DNR news Snakeheads (SH) are spreading throughout the Chesapeake Bay; something some thought would not happen, they thought the SH would be confined to the Middle Potomac and there was no talk of it spreading to the Upper Potomac.

I too read the report on what the SH is feeding on and that is good news; but we have to remember that data was collected from recent samples, and we need long term tracking of feeding habits over the entire range of the SH before we can have a clear picture of this fish. Some will tell you that this fish is still adapting to it new environment and it will by nature select the habit that produces the best result with the least energy expended. I predict, over time, we will see the SH moving both up, and down, the East coast via the inter-coastal waterway.

I agree with you "It would be nice if they made tournaments out of the species and gave some prizes out" to help draw attention to controlling this fish. Both MD and VA could hold state sponsored "Open" tournaments and award prizes for Largest fish, most fish, largest weight, etc. We could even have dock-side cook-offs where anglers cook their catch to win Top Chef.

With that said, and given the reproductive rate of the SH, we have to come to grips with the fact the SH is here to stay.

Cheers, Eric

[outdoorsman110]

I caught a 10lb and a 6lb snakehead last summer on a livetarget frog and a H&H spinner, on the Potomac.

[outdoorsman110]

Caught a 4 lber. out of Abel Lake on a baby brush hog! They were swimming amongst other largemouth bass. The bass didn't seem threatened by them.

doubtful.. I fish that lake and catch bowfins on berkley hogs.

[MCS]

Thought this was interesting read. You don't hear that much, at least when I lived up there, about them as quality table fare.

http://news.msn.com/...nkenfish-eat-em

But dang $26 dollars a plate LOL I think for that price I will stick softshell sandwich or a crab cake, hon.

[flyfisher]

I have always wanted to go target the snakeheads and i think i might.....any ideas on places that are kayak friendly??

[quanjig]

Pohick, take a left and go skinny, weedy and they are there!!

[flyfisher]

Anyone know what they do in the winter? I am assuming they slow down like all other cold blooded animals but i didn't know if they were still somewhat active in the cooler months.....

[quanjig]

If you can find some warm water discharge areas, they will be there!

[Traveler2586]

Anyone know what they do in the winter? I am assuming they slow down like all other cold blooded animals but i didn't know if they were still somewhat active in the cooler months.....

Look to the Maryland's Who's Who thread post 1787 + for some tips: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/43647-marylands-whos-who/page__st__1785

I've only found them in shallow slack waters around wood & weed.