Snakehead Fish.... 2024

Btech reply :

Firs off - I dont know if this is the right section - But you may need to see this!

I have been told these fish are arround my area and to be on the look out for what is called a "Snakehead". Since 2002 there have been 2 NOTED catches, not many but considering they can live on land for up to 3 days and eat nearly ANYTHING the wildlife commission wants anyone who spots one of these in the USA to report it IMMEDIATLY.

They said these things have VERY sharp teeth - and are often confused with a "Browning" the only way to tell the diff is the anal fin (Please no jokes) is over half the length as the dorsal i believe (top fin)

Check out this video - which i must say is kinda sick. - made me sick.

Bishop reply :

Same thing here in Arkansas. Their have been reports of these things in the drainage ditches in the southern parts of the state. Evidently they were imported into a stock pond for a fish farmer or farmers at some point. Little did they know these fish are able to breath air for short periods of time and can migrate over land to other bodies of water.

The game and fish commission is going nuts over them and wants immediate reports if one is found so that they can exterminate them immediately.

KYntucky Warmouth reply :

They've been around for awhile now and apart from the initial scare of the them taking over, I haven't heard much else. Hear they give a helluva fight though.

umahunter reply :

here's a link to the special they did on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/wild/3449/Overview those goobers on YouTube had better hope us fish and wildlife doesn't see there video. there quite serious about going after people who have them or smuggle them into the U S. for a tank or food. guess there a delicacy in some oriental shops . im sure there could also be a charge depending where they got the bass waste of a good bass >

Oscar O. reply :

Thats messed up. Is it legal to keep a 10 inch bass? They call it a big @$$ 10 inch bass too, which is interesting, since there are much bigger bass than that. Maybe a 20lber vs the snakehead? kidding, i wouldnt want to see fish fighting in tanks. Maybe some nature underwater footage a monster bass and a snakehead, but not in a tank. The bass didnt even have a fair chance... I havent heard of any around here, but its interesting.

Btech reply :

Very sickening - I felt it was wrong - made me nearly throw up knowing they did that knowing that hte bass was gona die, and to root the fish on like that was wrong, I believe in Survival of the fittest, but not in a small tank, it also wasted the bass, didnt even eat it, And they made STUPID remarks about the blood and laugh - those idiots need to be thrown in a tank of pirana's after being paper cut thousands of times.

Just my .02. - Hope yall dont encounter one, but if ya do call Wildlife.

CWB reply :

The guy that made this video is probably going to release the snakehead into the closest lake or pond when it gets too big for his tank. That's how this whole episode got started.

Btech reply :

I wish there was a way to track the people down who do this stuff and have them arrested. Thats gona cause MAJOR problems once released. From what im researching - they are asexual and can have babies on thier own? This is not from a certified site just a post i read - anyone know about this? Does it take 2 of them? What are the odds they grow.?

firefightn15 reply :

That's just stupid! There isn't even a point to the video. Obviously these fools need a life, and a hand to head talk. >

502largemouth reply :

oh, if I find one, they will get a call......a call to come pick up a snakehead fish corpse.

Why people have to introduce invasive species like this is beyond me.

Death to all snakeheads......at least the ones here.....lol.

Cyas,

dave reply :

I have fished in the pond where it all started, Crofton, MD. Tons of them in the Potomac River. Guys actually fish for them. They are not the monster they are made out to be. Exactly like BigRick said, not much talk about them here where it all began. A guide here used to do a comedy routine during his seminars. First they're going to eat all of the bait fish. Then they are going to eat all the game fish, including the bass. Then they will start coming out of the water and eating pets. Then your children while they are waiting at the school bus....

Btech reply :

I understand they aren't "Monsters" However reading NC's Wildlife Commission website, Its talking about what could happen should they continue to be put in the lakes, spawn.

Its a matter of Prevention if you ask me, Not just because we don't want them to eat our bass, but because we obviously don't want them taking over our lakes. It would lessen our game fish as well as the food supply. I think they need to catch them and ship them home (or kill em).

They said it is legal for you to kill it either by a stab in the head (Not damaging too much) or by putting it on Ice to preserve it. (Recommended route) but after watching the videos of people trying to remove the hook from one of these.... Its like a Piranha that can live out of water and doesn't need blood to become tenacious.

Just BAD Species if you ask me. (For our habitats)

SnowBass23 reply :

I think a lot of the reactions around snakeheads is largely knee-jerk. Sure, they are invasive and have no business being in the US. But, as to how much damage they will really do I don't think it is as bad as originally suspected. I'd still kill anyone I found and call game and wildlife officials to be certain. Bowfin are very similar in the deep south. Nasty mudfish with a mouthful of teeth. They can destroy a fish they catch, but there are plenty of LMB swimming right alongside them in our rivers and lakes.

Btech reply :

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I'd still kill anyone I found and call game and wildlife officials to be certain.

Kill Anyone? WOW ok so i must have taken this wrong - Hope you dont call Game Warden after a murder!

Agree KEEL EM ALLZ!

burleytog reply :

I love that video.

Btech reply :

Contradicts your signature Mr JJ

5bass reply :

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

done reply :

Hey BTech I take it you saw the news article about the one here recently. Couple of guys caught one in the Catawba system. it was 2.5 ft long, 12 lbs-ish (http://www.gastongazette.com/news/boat_32956___article.html/upton_fish.html)

It is confirmed though that it is a snakehead. So be on the lookout for these guys out there.

Btech reply :

Yeah I read that - Thats what made me do some research on this topic, Wanted to know what i could and when i found out how agressive they are i figured id inform those who are in our area about it.

slomoe reply :

There was a 30incher caught in MD yesterday. Big girl.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/042309_snakehead_fish_threat

.dsaavedra. reply :

i feel MUCH worse for the snakehead in the video than the bass.

the tank is way to small for that snakehead (can barely turn around or chase food)

the tank is way underfiltered (only one HOB filter!? seriously!?)

when the snakehead made its initial thrashes, did you notice the sediments it stirred up from the gravel? thats what poo looks like after it breaks down in the tank. looks like that gravel has never been vacuumed.

the tank is also oxygen deprived. there is no aeration at all, and the snakead can be seen gulping air several times during the video.

there is also no cover at all in the tank and the snakehead must feel stressed in such an environment.

i DON'T feel bad that they put a 10" bass in there because the bass WILL get eaten, no doubt in my mind about that. its not like the bass went to waste. it was used to feed a pet. i see no wrong in that.

also most of those rumors about snakeheads staying out of water for days, walking across land, asexual reproduction (seriously!? :-?) and destroying fisheries are false. they are well established in the potomac river and haven't affected the native fish populations.

snakeheads get too much hype :-/

Btech reply :

Quote

also most of those rumors about snakeheads staying out of water for days, walking across land, asexual reproduction (seriously!? :-?) and destroying fisheries are false. they are well established in the potomac river and haven't affected the native fish populations.

snakeheads get too much hype :-/

As for snakeheads living on land for up to 30 sumthing hours, its true, i check Youtube they show it , Also it is proven thaat they can cause harm to fish, I dont think DOW would make this stuff up just for fun.

YEs they probably do get alot of hype but that is because of the threat they do pose to our lakes, i dont think it would just be made up .

Sorry - But Check the videos they are asexual (acording to some chinese site) and they can live on land for up to 30 hours i believe, You tube has a video of one crossing land.

firefightn15 reply :

Quote
i feel MUCH worse for the snakehead in the video than the bass.
the tank is way to small for that snakehead (can barely turn around or chase food)

the tank is way underfiltered (only one HOB filter!? seriously!?)

when the snakehead made its initial thrashes, did you notice the sediments it stirred up from the gravel? thats what poo looks like after it breaks down in the tank. looks like that gravel has never been vacuumed.

the tank is also oxygen deprived. there is no aeration at all, and the snakead can be seen gulping air several times during the video.

there is also no cover at all in the tank and the snakehead must feel stressed in such an environment.

i DON'T feel bad that they put a 10" bass in there because the bass WILL get eaten, no doubt in my mind about that. its not like the bass went to waste. it was used to feed a pet. i see no wrong in that.

also most of those rumors about snakeheads staying out of water for days, walking across land, asexual reproduction (seriously!? :-?) and destroying fisheries are false. they are well established in the potomac river and haven't affected the native fish populations.

snakeheads get too much hype :-/

Dave, I can understand your interest in the tank design (I've seen your posts), but I wonder if this tank isn't put together specifically for blood sport. I would bet that the kids in the video have done this before.

jamarkwe reply :

Quote
i feel MUCH worse for the snakehead in the video than the bass.
the tank is way to small for that snakehead (can barely turn around or chase food)

the tank is way underfiltered (only one HOB filter!? seriously!?)

when the snakehead made its initial thrashes, did you notice the sediments it stirred up from the gravel? thats what poo looks like after it breaks down in the tank. looks like that gravel has never been vacuumed.

the tank is also oxygen deprived. there is no aeration at all, and the snakead can be seen gulping air several times during the video.

there is also no cover at all in the tank and the snakehead must feel stressed in such an environment.

i DON'T feel bad that they put a 10" bass in there because the bass WILL get eaten, no doubt in my mind about that. its not like the bass went to waste. it was used to feed a pet. i see no wrong in that.

also most of those rumors about snakeheads staying out of water for days, walking across land, asexual reproduction (seriously!? :-?) and destroying fisheries are false. they are well established in the potomac river and haven't affected the native fish populations.

snakeheads get too much hype :-/

He has two HOB filters. But yeah That tank is on the small side...

I didn't see any sediment stired up form the gravel... I saw a clear tank until the snakehead ripped a chunk out of the LM, and then scales and blood clouded the water.

That Beast would rip up and destory any type of cover you put in there. Unless it was heavy and solid, but then the fish would most likley hurt itself in a tank that small...Or even damage the tank. A stressed fish would not be that aggressive and hungry. That fish is not stressed in the least bit ...

Snakeheads breath air... A snakehead could live in a stagnate mud puddle if needed be... Also The filter's are creating aeration, any movement that breaks the water surface tension will introduce oxygen in the water.

-Marke

shaw24 reply :

Quote
i feel MUCH worse for the snakehead in the video than the bass.
the tank is way to small for that snakehead (can barely turn around or chase food)

the tank is way underfiltered (only one HOB filter!? seriously!?)

when the snakehead made its initial thrashes, did you notice the sediments it stirred up from the gravel? thats what poo looks like after it breaks down in the tank. looks like that gravel has never been vacuumed.

the tank is also oxygen deprived. there is no aeration at all, and the snakead can be seen gulping air several times during the video.

there is also no cover at all in the tank and the snakehead must feel stressed in such an environment.

i DON'T feel bad that they put a 10" bass in there because the bass WILL get eaten, no doubt in my mind about that. its not like the bass went to waste. it was used to feed a pet. i see no wrong in that.

also most of those rumors about snakeheads staying out of water for days, walking across land, asexual reproduction (seriously!? :-?) and destroying fisheries are false. they are well established in the potomac river and haven't affected the native fish populations.

snakeheads get too much hype :-/

Who gives a crap about the snakehead being in a tank thats too small! It's a trash fish that is killing our gamefish! They don't need to feed that thing a LMB to laugh about. >

Stan Wright reply :

They can stay alive out of water.... A friend caught 2 and since it was late, he wraped them in news paper and put them in the refrige. The next day after work, he went to clean them (they are really good eating) and the snakehead were both very much alive.

That's how they were able to be transported by sailing ship to hawaii from Asia... As long as you keep them nice and wet, they will survive.

Because they are so good to eat, they have almost been wiped out in Hawaii. This is the first I've seen in almost a year.

Aloha,

Stan

Dan: reply :

dsaavedra, from what I have heard, snakeheads haven't been that much of a problem in the Potomac because they inhabit different areas than other game fish. Apparently they prefer low oxygen areas with stagnant water. Maybe that is why the tank is set up with low oxygenation--because that is what they prefer...

I don't know if those were the actual intentions, but it seems to make sense.

Also, from what I understand they CAN stay alive out of water because they breath air with some mechanism like lungs as opposed or in addition to getting oxygen through their gills like other fish. BUT they still need to be wet and cool to survive outside of water.

I wouldn't worry too much about them. If they are in your waters, chances are that you won't be able to get rid of them without poisoning or draining the lake. The best thing that can be done is to enforce the importation and ownership bans on them so that they aren't introduced into new bodies of water.

As for the threat they pose to a fishery-I think a lot of state wildlife agencies are genuinely fearful of the addition of a new predator so they get worried and then tell the media what they think might happen. It happened here in the Potomac area. The media picked up the story and made everyone think it would be the end of the fishery. They sensationalized it to sell the story. The truth is that years later, the fishery is fine. Most agencies in our area (probably the area most affected by snakeheads) are now admitting that the snakehead has not had a measurable affect on the fishery.

So I would be concerned about them but don't let yourself get caught up in the sensationalized stories without first knowing the facts or what they have done in the US as opposed to what some people are afraid the could do.

Dan: reply :

Quote
Who gives a crap about the snakehead being in a tank thats too small! It's a trash fish that is killing our gamefish! They don't need to feed that thing a LMB to laugh about. >

Why is it a trash fish? They fight better and are better predators than bass... Why is a bass more valuable than a snakehead?

coffee reply :

Quote

Quote
Who gives a crap about the snakehead being in a tank thats too small! It's a trash fish that is killing our gamefish! They don't need to feed that thing a LMB to laugh about. >

Why is it a trash fish? They fight better and are better predators than bass... Why is a bass more valuable than a snakehead?

Never really understood that either. What makes a trash fish?

If its good eating, if I ever catch one its going on the dinner plate.

.dsaavedra. reply :

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dsaavedra, from what I have heard, snakeheads haven't been that much of a problem in the Potomac because they inhabit different areas than other game fish. Apparently they prefer low oxygen areas with stagnant water. Maybe that is why the tank is set up with low oxygenation--because that is what they prefer...
I don't know if those were the actual intentions, but it seems to make sense.

Also, from what I understand they CAN stay alive out of water because they breath air with some mechanism like lungs as opposed or in addition to getting oxygen through their gills like other fish. BUT they still need to be wet and cool to survive outside of water.

I wouldn't worry too much about them. If they are in your waters, chances are that you won't be able to get rid of them without poisoning or draining the lake. The best thing that can be done is to enforce the importation and ownership bans on them so that they aren't introduced into new bodies of water.

As for the threat they pose to a fishery-I think a lot of state wildlife agencies are genuinely fearful of the addition of a new predator so they get worried and then tell the media what they think might happen. It happened here in the Potomac area. The media picked up the story and made everyone think it would be the end of the fishery. They sensationalized it to sell the story. The truth is that years later, the fishery is fine. Most agencies in our area (probably the area most affected by snakeheads) are now admitting that the snakehead has not had a measurable affect on the fishery.

So I would be concerned about them but don't let yourself get caught up in the sensationalized stories without first knowing the facts or what they have done in the US as opposed to what some people are afraid the could do.

my thoughts exactly.

and guys, in my other post, i never said they couldn't breathe air, several fish can breathe air, its not unheard of. i said that the stories of them staying out of water for DAYS are false.

Sam reply :

Big Dave,

The Snakeheads are watching you.

They will follow you home and get under your bed.

Better beware.

.dsaavedra. reply :

Quote
Big Dave,
The Snakeheads are watching you.

They will follow you home and get under your bed.

Better beware.

but i'm on their side!

Btech reply :

Becaue they are NOT A NATIVE FISH. Bass are ... Next well be giving them driver liscenses and county aid.

Fish Domestic fish - Get rid of the ones that shouldnt be here.

bass are better because they are from here!

Dan: reply :

Quote
Becaue they are NOT A NATIVE FISH. Bass are ... Next well be giving them driver liscenses and county aid.
Fish Domestic fish - Get rid of the ones that shouldnt be here.

bass are better because they are from here!

ok, well smallmouth bass aren't native to most (if any) of Virginia or Maryland's waters. Should I be killing them if I catch them?

Btech reply :

Um....Re-Read your own post

Btech reply :

is it an AMERICAN Fish in american waters ... than no

Dan: reply :

Quote
is it an AMERICAN Fish in american waters ... than no

So it's alright to introduce a non-native species to a fishery as long as it is from somewhere else in America?

Can't introducing smallmouth do as much damage to an ecosystem as a snakehead can?

coffee reply :

Quote

Quote
is it an AMERICAN Fish in american waters ... than no

So it's alright to introduce a non-native species to a fishery as long as it is from somewhere else in America?

Can't introducing smallmouth do as much damage to an ecosystem as a snakehead can?

Or try introducing Flathead catfish to a new water system within America. They can wreak havoc.

Btech reply :

Ok Sorry did some reserach I may be in the wrong here.

Will keep lookin and let ya know tomorrow but arent those native?

Dan: reply :

"native" refers to a particular ecosystem or body of water. Smallmouth bass are "native" to some areas of the United States but they are not "native" to the streams and rivers of Virginia. They were introduced and have become part of the ecosystem. I don't know what type of immediate affect smallmouth had on Virginia's rivers but they have become the main predators in most of the rivers. That is an example of how a non-native fish (even if it is from other places in the United States) can affect a fishery. Some species affect fisheries more than others. It is best not to introduce non-native fish to a new fishery because you never really know what is going to happen. That is why the fish and game departments are so scared of snakeheads. They believe that snakeheads are a species that could negatively affect fisheries in a major way. In reality, they have not (at least in the Potomac). It's just fear of what could happen.

Btech reply :

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/player.html?channel=1797

Click on fish invasion

it can walk on land and can last up to 3 days on land

Dan: reply :

No, it can move slowly by writhing around, just like any other fish, especially long-skinny-profile fish. And it can breath air but it has to be cool and wet to live outside of water.

That video is an excerpt from a show called "Fishzilla." I've seen it before. It is an ideal example of how the media is inciting fear about the snakehead because of what they think it could do. Notice how they didn't mention anything about what is has (or hasn't) done to the American ecosystems where it has been found. It's a purely speculative video.

Dan: reply :

ptomacbass reply :

Snakeheads aren't even agressive. They are extremely hard to get to bite.

alarcher reply :

Wow!!! I saw the vid and read the posts and can't believe how little fishermen know about "invasive species." I do this for a career. Smallmouth are native to the states (and are not nearly as problematic as snakeheads on a population of native species), snakeheads are a problem, and Dave is a clueless poster that likes to stir things up to upset others. Our water sheds, nation wide are hit hard from invasive species and native fish suffer from it. All non-native fish that are illegally introduced should be culled (killed) and it's up to sportsmen to help biologists reduce all invasive species to the absolute smallest number as possible and including complete elimination of these species.

Now that I've fumed a bit... fish and enjoy your time on the water because no matter how the table fare is... snakeheads suck compared to crappie and walleye to eat!!!

Oh ya the fish in the vid is a blue snakehead not a northern snakehead which is (the northern) what is found most in the states.

If it's invasive, or not legally introduced it is a trash fish.

slomoe reply :

Quote

Great video, I haven't seen that before.

Dan: reply :

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Wow!!! I saw the vid and read the posts and can't believe how little fishermen know about "invasive species." I do this for a career. Smallmouth are native to the states (and are not nearly as problematic as snakeheads on a population of native species), snakeheads are a problem.

No, they aren't. Not in the Potomac at least.

I don't care if smallmouth are native to the US. They are predatory fish that are non-native to my area. Same as the snakehead. Introduction of either could have unintended consequences. Did the smallmouth change the Potomac ecosystem? I dunno, they were introduced a long time ago so it would be hard to compare what the river was like before to what its like now. Have the snakeheads changed the ecosystem? No, not according to the local fishery departments. Invasive species are fully capable of affecting ecosystems but they don't always affect them negatively or measurably.

alarcher reply :

Dan, Dan, Dan... once again you avoid the facts and completely disregard what was said! Your were clueless on your rebuttal and I will no longer listen to your future posts. Read what was said and then comeback with some kind of substantial reply and then I'll give you the facts (like you'll hear it anyway). Dude I couldn't have been more clear.

By the way... I wish we all lived on the Potomac!!! where everything is perfect.

ptomacbass reply :

Snakeheads are NOT vicious man eating beasts. They are just fish who rarely feed. Today I worked a school of Snakeheads for 6 hours and only caught one 5 pound 2 ouncer. I also worked one school for five days and only caught one on the fifth day. Think before you write, the media is not always right.

Joe T reply :

One observation and a few comments -

Observation: were all trying to make generalizations about the effects of a non native fish to our ecosystem and it is way way too early to determine the outcome whether its positive or negative (lets continue to listen to the state biologists and assist where we can).

Comments: I live in the Philly area and we have snakeheads in a few ponds that are feeding the Delaware and Schuykill River (right around

where the schuykill feeds the Delaware. Forty years ago some flathead were stocked in a lake that feeds the Schuykill and the infestation of this fish has been massive. A 50# flathead can eat a full grown snakehead as well as anything else it can fit in its maulers (see the infisherman article from last month). Although I am concerned about the snakehead - between the flathead, stripers and 50" muskies i am not sure snakeheads will effect the system outside of occupying stagnant water areas and providing a larger cylindrical bait to our apex predators. Oh and btw our smallmouth fishing is still fantastic. I guess if we didn't have a massive amount of bait (shad, herring, etc.) then maybe we'd have more issues. I agree the media made this fishes reputation much worse. Btw - lastly there is a great article in the NY Times how peacock bass are destroying the snakehead in a singapore reservoir (what comes around goes around).

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