Shane Procell Posted September 19, 2011 Posted September 19, 2011 JD'sCustomBaits put on another snakehead roundup this past weekend in Broward county. The top team, Steve and Andy killed an astounding 62 snakeheads. The second place team, Corey and Ed killed 31 snakeheads. My co-angler, Capt. Bud, got a 8 3/4# 34.75" snakehead for the Big Fish. Here is a video from our boat and the weigh in. 1 Quote
North Ga Hillbilly Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 Looks like a lot of fun, glad to hear folks are doing their best to get rid of as many of those things as possible. NGaHB Quote
Shane Procell Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 Looks like a lot of fun, glad to hear folks are doing their best to get rid of as many of those things as possible. NGaHB It is a loseing battle. We keep finding them in every nook and out of the way ditch you can imagine. The FWC has a dedicated shock boat and it seem like the word is out to kill them all.....however everytime we go after them there are record breaking kills and the sizes are getting bigger. I have come to the conclusion that the snakehead is here to stay. Quote
North Ga Hillbilly Posted September 20, 2011 Posted September 20, 2011 It's a real shame, but I'm not very surprised. I have heard they are a serious apex predator. Have they been directly messing with the bass populations? NGaHB Quote
Shane Procell Posted September 20, 2011 Author Posted September 20, 2011 Its hard to say if they are messing with the bass fry. But I can only assume that they are eating them. I know the bass are eating the snakehead fry as well. Quote
WHYoWHY Posted September 21, 2011 Posted September 21, 2011 Hey Shane, I am in PB County I want to try to get some snakeheads. Have a jon boat, or can fish from shore. Could you give me some ideas where to get a few of them? I would appriciate it. Thanks. Quote
Shane Procell Posted September 22, 2011 Author Posted September 22, 2011 Sure can....The closet for you is Hillsborough canal. There are a couple off boat ramps on it. The best one is in a park. Use a rubber frog/strong hook/braided line (30-40#) They lay up next to the bank so keep your cast at the bank or parallel to the bank. Other Snakehead killing grounds include: C-14 canal Markham Park Sunrise Tamarac Coral Springs Quote
Diggy Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Sure can....The closet for you is Hillsborough canal. There are a couple off boat ramps on it. The best one is in a park. Use a rubber frog/strong hook/braided line (30-40#) They lay up next to the bank so keep your cast at the bank or parallel to the bank. Other Snakehead killing grounds include: C-14 canal Markham Park Sunrise Tamarac Coral Springs any specific spots? I know a few in sunrise, near oakland and 115th and behind wharehouses on nob hill south of commercial blvd Quote
WHYoWHY Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Thanks for the info. I will try to help get rid of some of them, and add a new florida invasive to my catch list. Quote
GrundleLove Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Sooooo why all the aggressive killing of snakeheads? Why cant they be like any other species of sport fish... 2 Quote
FL_Sharpshooter Posted September 22, 2011 Posted September 22, 2011 Sooooo why all the aggressive killing of snakeheads? Why cant they be like any other species of sport fish... Obviously there is a problem with them living here, or else the FWC wouldn't be so strict about it. I don't necessarily promote the killing of them for the fun of it, but if you want to eat or make good use of them, then fine. I can see your point also. Quote
Shane Procell Posted September 23, 2011 Author Posted September 23, 2011 Sooooo why all the aggressive killing of snakeheads? Why cant they be like any other species of sport fish... Good question. The only reasonable response I can give is to put you in our situation. How would you feel about a non native apex preditor fish being released into your favorite bass hole? Think about this....the snakehead lays over 4000+ eggs a year and guards their fry untill they are over 6 inches long. How many seasons do you think it would take before your favorite bass hole would be taken over by snakeheads? This is the delima we are faceing in S. Florida. The snakehead is not just another exotic fish like the butterfly peacock bass or the myan cyclid. It does not just coexist with other fish....It kills them. It kills anything that moves including small fish (bass) and crayfish, but occasionally eats a wide variety of prey including turtles, toads, lizards, snakes, and insects . It takes over an area and kills anything that comes near it. I have actually seen it launch itself up on the bank and strike a duck. I'am not saying it's doom and gloom for our bass, however there is a canal system called Markham Park that is loaded with snakeheads. Only a levee is keeping the snakeheads from getting into the everglades. Once the snakehead makes it to the everglades(and it will) then we could see a dramatic decline in the food supply for the native fish species, and eventually a decline in the bass population. Here is how the FWC wants anglers to help: The Florida Wildlife Comission is encourageing anglers to kill all non native fish caught with the exception for the butterfly peacock bass. Updated as of 9-11-2011. http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2049/~/exotic-fish---what-to-do-with-a-snakehead-or-other-exotic-fish%3F Quote
Super User Bassn Blvd Posted September 23, 2011 Super User Posted September 23, 2011 It's kind of like the illegal immigrant issue our Country is plagued with. 3 Quote
Super User South FLA Posted September 28, 2011 Super User Posted September 28, 2011 I wonder if FWC can section off canals and lakes and use rotenone? They once did it up here in Palm Beach County to a small neighborhood pond and restocked it. Canals should be relatively easy since they could section off canals using floating barriers and work their way up to water control structures, same goes with small lakes, but if they are in the Glades it maybe tough, unless of course they wait for ultra low waters. Sad part is that it would kill off natives also, but nothing an aggressive restocking program could not cure. Rotenone is pretty powerful stuff and kills off fish at very low concentrations. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted September 28, 2011 Super User Posted September 28, 2011 I can see where that is a losing battle, but you guys certainly made a good time of it. How long before someone opens the first Snakehead Pro Shops ? A-Jay Quote
Diggy Posted September 29, 2011 Posted September 29, 2011 I read that in VA, its not as big as an epidemic as thought. They arent overrunning the area or killing off all of the other fish. Saw it on this forum somewhere found it "The latest issue of Virginia Wildlife has a short article on the Northern Snakehead. It seems largemouth bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed each comprise less than 1% of the diet of SHs. Killifish seem to be the preferred food. White perch also seem to represent a decent portion of the diet. The article also has a far less alarming tone than one heard a few years ago. Seems the Northern Snakehead aren't the plague once feared. The size of the fish in the photos must provide incredible action on bass rigs. The fish LOOK awesome. And I understand they are delectable." wonder how true it is Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted September 30, 2011 Super User Posted September 30, 2011 Have yet to see a snakehead in my part of Palm Beach County. Quote
GrundleLove Posted September 30, 2011 Posted September 30, 2011 Ok but like....cant you make that same argument with other sport fish? I mean, pickerel and bass and pike(which i have seen kill ducks also) etc etc eat, crayfish...sunfish, lizards,toads...as a matter of fact i have a lure for each of them for bass in my tackle box right now. I just dont really understand the difference other than the fact that they lay a lot of eggs and produce more...i dont see why it cant be just like any other sport fish..they look cool as hell, they fight great, and you can use a wide variety of lures to catch them...dont see a problem there... Also lest we forget the Alligator Gar murdering that happened a long time ago i think it was early 1900's or late 1800's, fear caused almost a complete extinction of a species, now we are scrambling to save this fish from ignorant ancestors. Do you think 100 years from now people will be saying the same thing about snake heads? To quote George Santayana: "If we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it" 2 Quote
Shane Procell Posted October 1, 2011 Author Posted October 1, 2011 Have yet to see a snakehead in my part of Palm Beach County. They are being reported on 441 canals in PBC and I caught them in SW PBC. Quote
Diggy Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 They are being reported on 441 canals in PBC and I caught them in SW PBC. I wont have to drive far then Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted October 1, 2011 Super User Posted October 1, 2011 They are being reported on 441 canals in PBC and I caught them in SW PBC. That isn't good news. With the peacocks gone and snakeheads coming in, my interest in freshwater fishing has vanished. Always on the lookout for gators and snakes and now I have to deal with this, who needs it.........................i doubt very seriously if I will fish for bass again, with the exception of piddling in my community pond for 2 pounders, just to break up the winter boredom. Quote
Diggy Posted October 1, 2011 Posted October 1, 2011 I like the new snakehead video @ capt shane Quote
Shane Procell Posted October 21, 2011 Author Posted October 21, 2011 I woke this morning to see my article featured on the Florida Sportsman Homepage. Pretty cool! Quote
North Ga Hillbilly Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 Ok but like....cant you make that same argument with other sport fish? I mean, pickerel and bass and pike(which i have seen kill ducks also) etc etc eat, crayfish...sunfish, lizards,toads...as a matter of fact i have a lure for each of them for bass in my tackle box right now. I just dont really understand the difference other than the fact that they lay a lot of eggs and produce more...i dont see why it cant be just like any other sport fish..they look cool as hell, they fight great, and you can use a wide variety of lures to catch them...dont see a problem there... Also lest we forget the Alligator Gar murdering that happened a long time ago i think it was early 1900's or late 1800's, fear caused almost a complete extinction of a species, now we are scrambling to save this fish from ignorant ancestors. Do you think 100 years from now people will be saying the same thing about snake heads? To quote George Santayana: "If we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it" They are non native, period. Its neat Burmese Pythons are able to live in the Everglades, but should they be there? NGaHB Quote
GLADES Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 I wonder if FWC can section off canals and lakes and use rotenone? They once did it up here in Palm Beach County to a small neighborhood pond and restocked it. Canals should be relatively easy since they could section off canals using floating barriers and work their way up to water control structures, same goes with small lakes, but if they are in the Glades it maybe tough, unless of course they wait for ultra low waters. Sad part is that it would kill off natives also, but nothing an aggressive restocking program could not cure. Rotenone is pretty powerful stuff and kills off fish at very low concentrations. It would kill everything else, including shrimp, bugs, and other critters in the glades that feed the fish too. They might have to close of or fill in canals to certain sections of the glades, lower the water to drought conditions and then finish them off with the poison. Basically create a dead zone, and then restock. Sounds like the nuclear option. Maybe it could be timed to avoid the migratory bird season to lessen the impact. Another problem with rotenone is that is suspected to cause Parkinson's disease. I am sure the outcry would prevent it's use. Quote
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