Maryland Puts A Bounty On The Northern Snakehead

[Traveler2586]

This article came across my daily read today and I thought that since it covers both the NE and SE forums I would post it here for general interest.

Win prizes for catching Snakeheads

Sunday - 4/1/2012, 10:40am ET [WTOP.COM]

The Northern Snakehead is a non-native, invasive species, according to [MD] DNR. (Courtesy of KYschools.us)

WASHINGTON - If the delicious meat and dangerous souvenirs weren't enough incentive to catch Snakehead fish, how about up to $200 in prizes?

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering prizes to anglers who can land the destructive, invasive species that has many experts worried.

This follows a two-day tournament the [MD] DNR hosted last September aimed at stopping the species from expanding beyond its already surprising reach.

"We do not want Snakeheads in our waters," said DNR Inland Fisheries Director Don Cosden. "This initiative is a way to remind anglers that it is important to catch and remove this invasive species of fish." [good luck with that]

Here are the prizes being offered:

• $200 gift card from Bass Pro Shops
  
• A Maryland State Passport which provides unlimited day-use entry for up to 10 passengers in a vehicle, unlimited boat launching at State Park facilities and a 10 percent discount on state-operated concessions and boat rentals [cost 75.00]
  
• Potomac River Fisheries Commission fishing license [??? maybe this is for 2013]
  

Winners must have caught the fish from the Chesapeake Bay's watershed. [ which covers MD, VA, DC, PA, WV, DL]

Three winners will be randomly be drawn on Nov. 30, 2012.

It's unclear how the species first entered the area, though it's believed Snakeheads were first introduced to a pond in Crofton, Md. The fish are able to breathe air and crawl across land for short distances, and are now rife in the Potomac River.

[in the beginning] Scientists believed the freshwater species would not be able to survive any water more salty than brackish tributaries like the Potomac, though some were sighted in other parts of the region, like Annapolis [MD]. They would only have been able to access these areas by swimming through salt water.

Learn more about registering for the contest at the DNR website. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/

Ref: WTOP News at http://www.wtop.com/...=46&sid=2808491

[LgMouthGambler]

We have something similar to that down here. Its called the Snakehead Roundup, for Bullseye Snakeheads. Capt Shane has a lot to do with it. Its pretty neat. Winners are determined by the total weight of their unlimited number of catch.

[tomustang]

Hey it's a start

[Traveler2586]

I would like to see a fishing tournament type of event where there are prizes for most weight, and most fish at the end of the day. The prize's don't need to be big ticket items, just some type of recognition for the effort. It could be DNR's opportunity to meet the anglers, collect fish data, hand out up to date info on how the fish lives, where it's living, and so on.

[LgMouthGambler]

Florida Wildlife Fish and Game comes to check out the kill.