Snakeheads

[Orpssab]

Just got back from South Florida yesterday. Fished Lox for 2 days. We got 30 fish one day and 27 the next. All small save for one 4#er. Wacky worms and senko's. Also fished various canals and ponds. The bass fishing not as good as last trip here but those snakeheads!...They are everywhere. My first time catching them. Even though it was fun catching them, I stoppped throwing spinnerbaits and rapala's cuz it got too expensive. I'm headed back to South Florida in 3 weeks. What is a cheaper way to catch these things?

[oldschool61]

I can't answer your question, but I'll be in Florida in a couple of weeks and plan to find out. I'm guessing by expensive you mean they bite through your line? I found barracuda to be frustratingly consistent that way and learned that they would strike on the diameter of 12# stainless steel strand leader but wouldn't touch the diameter of 24#, even the expensive 49 strand that is the most supple so I know it wasn't the stiff action of the lures or bait. I learned that they will hit on a short wire leader, but no more than 4 or 4 1/2 inches in length. I can't wait to find out how sensative snakehead are to wire, wire length or steel leaders. If they won't hit, I'm going to try a short length of narrow diameter polycarbonate or acrylic tubing. They're used to make those hard clear straws that are popular now. About 90% of light passes through them, so I'm going to find out if the barracuda around Ft. Lauderdale will hit on them at 8" length and see if they can bite through it or not. Maybe that will help with the snakehead if they're too wary of steel leaders.

I've also read that snakehead are tremendous fighters and use their bodies sideways and fight the hardest when closest to shore, which is when you have the least margin for error in absorbing the fight. Did you find that to be true?

Hope that helps or at least gives you some ideas.

[LgMouthGambler]

^{Anything that makes a splashing on the surface of the water will work. They are not too particular in what they attack. I usually catch them a lot using a BPS Horney toad on a 3/0 wide gap hook. Just run the frog across the surface so the feet splash like crazy and they will go nuts. They are usually located within 3 feet of the shore, so using something that can be rigged weedless is a plus.}

[piscicidal]

Just got back from South Florida yesterday. Fished Lox for 2 days. We got 30 fish one day and 27 the next. All small save for one 4#er. Wacky worms and senko's. Also fished various canals and ponds. The bass fishing not as good as last trip here but those snakeheads!...They are everywhere. My first time catching them. Even though it was fun catching them, I stoppped throwing spinnerbaits and rapala's cuz it got too expensive. I'm headed back to South Florida in 3 weeks. What is a cheaper way to catch these things?

You didn't catch any snakeheads at Lox did you???

My golf course ponds have become infested with snakeheads and they are huge...I've caught two over 37". I don't throw spinnerbaits in there anymore as the snakeheads will destroy a spinnerbait. They spin like an alligator doing a death roll and just mangle up the wire. Cheapest way to fish them is just buzz a topwater plastic frog on an big EWG hook.

[Orpssab]

I went through every spinnerbait I brought with me...none were repairable. Even a few jerk baits got thrashed! Yes I found out they do a "death roll" similar to gator's when they get close to the boat. I'll have to bring a "club" with me to knock them out to retrieve my bait like I see fisherman do on U-tube. I'm guessing that will kill them as well. And NO...no snakeheads at Lox. Just bass..........At least not yet I guess.

What a difference a few years makes. 2 years ago, we caught peacocks galore and no snakeheads to speak of. A cold winter or two, peacocks die and snakeheads take over. Is South Florida in trouble?

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in Delray have yet to see a snakehead.

@oldschool,

I could give you a few tips on cuda, we target them quite a bit. Last of the incoming tide is best, non stained water very calm ( west wind). Most of the guys use 30-60# wire leaders about 15", the best artificial lure are cuda tubes. The bigger Cuda's are very skittish, quite often follow the lure but don't strike.

[oldschool61]

I missed the point. Awfully nice of you to include me in the conversation anyway! Newbie mistake. If I may, do they hit inline spinners as well as spinnerbait? I ask because I bought some heavy wire for making muskie lures I intended to use on barracuda and snakehead that might hold up. Sounds like surface frogs work best anyway. Thanks again.

[Diggy]

I used some Gander Mntn frogs and yum money frogs this weekend that passed. I also have some Stanley floating ribbits that you dont have to constantly reel in since they float. I caught one that was about 3ft long and fought like a Bonita. Ive also caught them on rage tail toads and I assume zoom horny toads will work well....I realized that I didnt want to ruin my Spro frogs or any other ones when it came time to take the hooks out. They give me the creeps sometimes...I prefer the heavier frogs because they cast farther(gander/yum). Id like some mendit or possibly some elaztech (zman frogs) for durability.

[Orpssab]

Thanks Dink...those are exactly the frogs I bought yesterday. Headed to snakehead country next week!

[Diggy]

Thanks Dink...those are exactly the frogs I bought yesterday. Headed to snakehead country next week!

Which ones were the ones that you bought?

[Orpssab]

The Zoom Horny Toads and Stanley's Ribbit's. Got them at Academy Sports.

[piscicidal]

Check out JDs custom frogs, also. They make a big, tough (durable) frog that is well suited for snakeheads (and bass). All the top finishers in the snakehead roundup were throwing JDs frogs.

[salmicropterus]

I'm not suggesting anyone here is doing it but I have been amazed by some confusion people have had about misidentifying bowfin as snakeheads. I guess its part of the hysteria.

[GLADES]

Check out JDs custom frogs, also. They make a big, tough (durable) frog that is well suited for snakeheads (and bass). All the top finishers in the snakehead roundup were throwing JDs frogs.

You are right about Jd's frogs..very tough, yet still have great action.

[Diggy]

going after some on the weekend

[SirSnookalot]

I just want to catch one to see what's all about, so far haven't seen one in my area.

[Diggy]

Try Boca canals since its not too far south of you, man its the closest thing to a salt water fight.Need a break from bass fishing. I caught one that was 3 ft long, I've only caught 3 and it was my biggest.

I had to use my thumb to stop the spool from time to time. Once I got it out of the muck I wondered how I was going to take the hook out. The hooks barb was flattened so it hopped off and flopped back in. Caught one the next day and dragged it way back from the water. I missed a few and ended up catching more bass which isn't what I wanted. Fishing these on a medium rod is fun. My veritas would probably make it way easier.

I have some cheap Walmart spinner baits i may use also, they are a buck each so if they last a few fish they may work out better than the frogs. I may go this evening and again tomorrow in the coral springs area near the sawgrass and west sample road.

[Diggy]

I took my boy to the place where I catch and he ended up getting his first.

6lbs 1oz

I struck out, I missed about 5 fish, one bit the frog in half...Ill try tomorrow possibly

[Shane Procell]

What wrong with his face?

[Diggy]

Sunburn

[SirSnookalot]

I went to Boca a few days ago still haven't seen one, guess I have the wrong spots. I've got about 2-3 weeks left for freshwater fishing, maybe I'll score.

[Diggy]

I went to Boca a few days ago still haven't seen one, guess I have the wrong spots. I've got about 2-3 weeks left for freshwater fishing, maybe I'll score.

try near the sawgrass xpwy off sample road in Coral Springs, thats where we caught the one in the pic...I can give you specifics if needed

[SirSnookalot]

I would appreciate it.

There used to a healthy population of peacocks in Coral Springs

[Orpssab]

I'm headed back to Pompono Beach area next week. This time I'm loaded with snakehead gear!...Frogs and 4/0, 5/0 hooks! Last month I made this trip, I was geared for bass and caught mostly snakeheads...I went back home with no spinnerbaits and broken crankbaits!

I caught snakeheads in almost all the canals in Margate, Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach and NO peacocks!

[Diggy]

The Zoom Horny Toads and Stanley's Ribbit's. Got them at Academy Sports.

I used both zoom and stanley this weekend. The zoom are a bit light and not as noisy as the stanley. I prefer the gander, yum and rage toads for weight and noise. If I used the stanley hooks I would have jooked up with the fish that ripped the back legs off clean due to the positioning of them. I bought the zoom 5/0 frog hooks

I'm headed back to Pompono Beach area next week. This time I'm loaded with snakehead gear!...Frogs and 4/0, 5/0 hooks! Last month I made this trip, I was geared for bass and caught mostly snakeheads...I went back home with no spinnerbaits and broken crankbaits!

I caught snakeheads in almost all the canals in Margate, Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach and NO peacocks!

I may try this weekend also if weather and time permits