To kill or not to kill—bowfin 2024
WDE reply :
I posted this catch FB, and have been encouraged to kill any further bowfin I catch. This was caught in a shallow pond—max depth 5 feet, maybe an acre or 2. No pressure, healthy bass population. Having no previous knowledge of bowfin, I let it go.
What do do you guys say? Should I have killed it, or was letting it go the right choice?
CroakHunter reply :
No need to kill it. They fight hard and are fun to catch. They live forever out of water Too. Maybe people thought it was a snakehead which I think are an invasive species. I don't believe bowfin are invasive but could be wrong. The only fish we kill and don't eat are Asian carp
Tracker22 reply :
I’ve caught them on occasion in my favorite small lake. They don’t seem to over populate and they don’t affect the quality of fish in the lake because there’s plenty of biggens.
Angry John reply :
They are natural in north america and should be left as they were found. Snake heads are invasive and in some states are required by law to be killed.
flyfisher reply :
No state has a law to kill a snakehead. What the laws around here at least state is that if you have any snakehead in your possession then they have to be dead, not that you have to kill any you catch.
That aside, bowfin are an incredible fish and there is no need to kill them. They have been around for a long long time and i have yet to see any studies or anecdotal evidence on my part that indicates a healthy bowfin population impacts bass population.
Don't kill them, that is just ignorance from others speaking.
Angry John reply :
http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/SNAKEHEADS.pdf
Indiana requires you kill them. Boom facts...
http://www.eregulations.com/indiana/fishing/fishing-regulations/
Species Illegal to Possess
The following fish and mussels are illegal to possess: Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, ruffe, snakehead (of the family Channidae), stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish (of the family Clariidae), Wels catfish, white perch (not freshwater drum), zander, and zebra mussel.
If any of these species are taken into possession, they must be killed immediately by either removing their head, removing gills from at least one side of the fish, or gutted. Your cooperation is essential.
Do i want to argue possession, nope But i dont want to be standing there with one in my hand thats not dead.
flyfisher reply :
Boom learn how to read AND comprehend.
those rules are exactly what i said they are, they do not require you to kill any snakehead that is caught. they require you to kill any snakehead that is in your possession. Landing a fish is not possession any more than catching a fish that is out of season is possession.
Angry John reply :
On 12/6/2017 at 11:20 AM, flyfisher said:Boom learn how to read AND comprehend.
those rules are exactly what i said they are, they do not require you to kill any snakehead that is caught. they require you to kill any snakehead that is in your possession. Landing a fish is not possession any more than catching a fish that is out of season is possession.
Did you read both???
Preventing the introduction of snakeheads into Indiana is the main management objective. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent introducing snakeheads and other invasive fish species. 9Learn how to correctly identify snakeheads and other invasive species. 9Do not release aquarium fish into the wild. 9If you have a snakehead in an aquarium, it must be euthanized. IT IS THE LAW! 9Kill all snakeheads caught, do not release them alive. 9Immediately report the sighting of snakeheads to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife and freeze fish for identity verification. (317) 232-4080 dkeller@dnr.IN.gov 402 W. Washington St., Rm W273 Indianapolis, IN 46204
Gundog reply :
I'd kill one if I caught it. Those fish, in numbers, can do lots of damage to a fishery. And the fact that they are predators means they don't have many ways of naturally limiting their numbers.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Bowfin and bass coexist in lots of bodies of water without issues. Killing one without the intent to eat it could be considered wanton waste.
riverbasser reply :
We call em mudfish or black fish and I only kill them by accident trying to get my lures back, those things are prestoric. Crazy fighters too, only fish I've ever caught do the death roll like a gator.
I've fished with several guys in tourneys that break their jaw before releasing(basically killing them) for what they believe is an act of conservation. I just wish they tasted good.
TnRiver46 reply :
A bowfin is not a snakehead. Only kill it if you're gonna eat it
Ratherbfishing reply :
I've no research to back this up but I don't think bowfin pose any significant threat to other fish populations. They have been around "forever" and I've never heard of a lake being overrun by them. One lake I fish has a few bowfin and if any lake could be overrun by a species, this particular lake could. But it isn't. They hit hard, fight harder, and since I personally seldom keep bass to eat, an "inedible" bowfin holds (almost) as much esteem for me as does a bass.
Team9nine reply :
On 12/6/2017 at 8:41 AM, WDE said:
What do do you guys say? Should I have killed it, or was letting it go the right choice?
You did the right thing 
flyfisher reply :
On 12/6/2017 at 12:03 PM, Angry John said:Did you read both???
Preventing the introduction of snakeheads into Indiana is the main management objective. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent introducing snakeheads and other invasive fish species. 9Learn how to correctly identify snakeheads and other invasive species. 9Do not release aquarium fish into the wild. 9If you have a snakehead in an aquarium, it must be euthanized. IT IS THE LAW! 9Kill all snakeheads caught, do not release them alive. 9Immediately report the sighting of snakeheads to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife and freeze fish for identity verification. (317) 232-4080 dkeller@dnr.IN.gov 402 W. Washington St., Rm W273 Indianapolis, IN 46204
I did read both and they are contradictory information. I saw multiple things that said in possession then this one blurb saying to kill them. That does not make it law. it is also a semi-moot point as no snakehead have been found in indiana.
I also find it hard to believe that you are required to kill any species that is caught.
IndianaFinesse reply :
Legal or illegal to release, those darn fish can be awful slippery
. Just sayin.
BTW, they have never been proven to damage bass populations and are very powerful fighters. More than qualifies them for being a "good" gamefish in my book.
Angry John reply :
The idea of using fishermen in the fight against invasive species is a huge part of the plan. People who go fishing a lot make contact with the water way more than any state could afford to keep employees out there. We are the eyes and ears of the DNR and provide a huge sample rate on health of fisheries. Some of us do damage but more clean and protect the environment we choose to spend our leisure time in. I have no problem killing an invasive species, and i release everything i catch due to respect for my creators creatures. I do my best to be a steward of the lakes and streams i fish and the environment as a hole. Im not nuts and i dont bang on doors and protest but i do try and do my part for conservation. Some states like Florida have huge problems with invasives and i would kill them in a heart beat to protect the natives...
Ben Miller reply :
Laughing at all these reply's!!!! They eat the same food as BASS!!!!! Kill em!!! They compete with Bass! The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!
flyfisher reply :
On 12/7/2017 at 9:29 AM, Ben Miller said:Laughing at all these reply's!!!! They eat the same food as BASS!!!!! Kill em!!! They compete with Bass! The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!
I am laughing at this ignorant response myself.
So you are a proponent of killing anything that eats the same food as bass? And if so at what age bass because they eat different things during different stages of their life.
Scott F reply :
On 12/7/2017 at 9:29 AM, Ben Miller said:Laughing at all these reply's!!!! They eat the same food as BASS!!!!! Kill em!!! They compete with Bass! The more Bowfin's the smaller the bass!!!
Bluegills eat bass eggs. Kill em!!! Birds eat the same food as bass!! Kill em!!! Bucket fishermen eat bass!!! Kill em!!!!!!!
Ben Miller reply :
On 12/7/2017 at 9:51 AM, Scott F said:Bluegills eat bass eggs. Kill em!!! Birds eat the same food as bass!! Kill em!!! Bucket fishermen eat bass!!! Kill em!!!!!!!
Lol!!!! Fair fair, good point!
UPSmallie reply :
Last I checked, bowfin help mange rough-fish populations and are beneficial to maintaining balance. I'd recommend just throwing them back unless you're planning on eating them.
Catt reply :
OK! Bowfin: Common names include mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle, grinnel, cypress trout and choupique
In colder water they are not a threat but in the warm waters down south they will completely take over a body of water.
It is not uncommon to catch Choupique down here weighing 10-15 lbs.
Would I suggest killing em?
Nope but I aint going outta my way to save one!
Rick Howard reply :
Up here lots of folks call them Ling. They hit hard and fight like a bear. Kinda neat looking fish too. Don't lip em'.
soflabasser reply :
Why would anyone kill a bowfin? Bowfin are a native species to many of the places they live in and fight harder than a bass of equal size. I actually enjoy fishing for bowfin( my PB bowfin is over 13 pounds) and I have spots where you can catch +50 of them in a day, with several in the +6 pound class. Send them bowfin down here to South Florida if you don't like them, I will gladly fish for them.
On 12/8/2017 at 5:19 AM, UPSmallie said:Last I checked, bowfin help mange rough-fish populations and are beneficial to maintaining balance. I'd recommend just throwing them back unless you're planning on eating them.
Well said @UPSmallie. Bowfin are a important part of the environment they live in and I also recommend releasing them. They are a prehistoric species that existed before bass did and will most likely exist longer than many species.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 1:16 PM, soflabasser said:Why would anyone kill a bowfin? Bowfin are a native species to many of the places they live in and fight harder than a bass of equal size. I actually enjoy fishing for bowfin( my PB bowfin is over 13 pounds) and I have spots where you can catch +50 of them in a day, with several in the +6 pound class. Send them bowfin down here to South Florida if you don't like them, I will gladly fish for them.
Well said @UPSmallie. Bowfin are a important part of the environment they live in and I also recommend releasing them. They are a prehistoric species that existed before bass did and will most likely exist longer than many species.
I've only ever caught 2, both while fishing with a member from Florida in the Everglades. They were really cool looking fish that fought like crazy. I'll admit, I was disappointed initially that they weren't the big bass I thought they were, but I still very much appreciated the bite and fight they put up. I'm sure I'd fish for them if there was anywhere around that had any.
Jar11591 reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 11:39 AM, Rick Howard said:Up here lots of folks call them Ling. They hit hard and fight like a bear. Kinda neat looking fish too. Don't lip em'.
Ling and Bowfin are actually a different species. Ling or lingcod is another name for a burbot which is actually like a freshwater codfish. They do look somewhat similar.
soflabasser reply :
On 12/8/2017 at 3:36 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I've only ever caught 2, both while fishing with a member from Florida in the Everglades. They were really cool looking fish that fought like crazy. I'll admit, I was disappointed initially that they weren't the big bass I thought they were, but I still very much appreciated the bite and fight they put up. I'm sure I'd fish for them if there was anywhere around that had any.
The Everglades and surrounding areas is where I catch most of my bowfin so you where in a very good location to fish for them. They love to hit a spinnerbait that is slow rolled on the bottom, jerk baits, flukes, and topwaters worked over or near lily pads. They provide lots of action when at times the bass might not be as active, and in the end of the day I rather have a day filled with catching lots of fish than not catching anything at all.
jason41987 reply :
bowfins have existed in north america since the jurassic period meaning they have been in those lakes long before bass or most other game fish.. there are some less educated fisherman that have this ridiculous delusion that they reduce game fish populations, but given how long bowfins have existed if that were even remotely true thered be no game fish left...
this myth comes from the fact that bowfin are capable of breathing air, so when some environmental event raises the toxicity of a lake or river system, that environmental condition kills off most the game fish leaving bowfin the sole survivor to get the blame for something that was in all likeliness man-made
on top of all of that they are fun to catch, quite frankly they are more fun to catch than bass which give very little fight in comparison to a 3' long bowfin or pike or even a big fat carp.. if you catch one, put it back, its been there longer than anything else in north america
thinkingredneck reply :
It is part of the ecosystem. Leave it.
Turkey sandwich reply :
Turkey sandwich reply :
The mass hysteria over evil fish that breath air is absurd. Bowfin are a valuable part of healthy ecosystems where they're present and have been for forever. They are the opposite of invasive. Further, the idea that having multiple predatory species is bad for a fishery tends to be short sighted.
Even snakehead, where found have shown to have little to no impact on bass populations and the majority of folks who pound their chests about them also tend to be the guys who camp next to stocking trucks and and pride themselves as master anglers... For the first two weeks of trout season.
The biggest exceptions I can see being justified are invasive species like carp, and lampreys that actually have documented negative impacts.
Pro Logcatcher reply :
If they aren't invasive and they aren't ruining other fish populations leave them be. They are pretty cool looking, too.
Tracker22 reply :
On 12/11/2017 at 8:22 PM, Pro Logcatcher said:If they aren't invasive and they aren't ruining other fish populations leave them be. They are pretty cool looking, too.
Yeah, and they turn fluorescent green during a spawn.
J Francho reply :
Seems we have a few that need to brush up on identifying local fish species.
jason41987 reply :
On 12/11/2017 at 2:07 PM, Turkey sandwich said:The mass hysteria over evil fish that breath air is absurd. Bowfin are a valuable part of healthy ecosystems where they're present and have been for forever. They are the opposite of invasive. Further, the idea that having multiple predatory species is bad for a fishery tends to be short sighted.
Even snakehead, where found have shown to have little to no impact on bass populations and the majority of folks who pound their chests about them also tend to be the guys who camp next to stocking trucks and and pride themselves as master anglers... For the first two weeks of trout season.
The biggest exceptions I can see being justified are invasive species like carp, and lampreys that actually have documented negative impacts.
why carp? what have carp done? they are primarily vegetation first, eat crustaceans second, and theyre not invasive, theyre naturalized, their numbers have reached an equilibrium with the ecosystem that they are now part of and arent bad to eat either
i may get some hate for this one, but ive never really enjoyed catching bass that much, after catching bowfin, pike, carp, and other species that put up a heck of a fight, bass just dont do it for me.. i mean, its cool you can stick your finger in their mouth and pick them up to remove a hook, convenient for catch and release while a pike or bowfin may swim off with your fingers.. but i like the fight they put up
on another note, anybody eat a bowfin before?
Turkey sandwich reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 3:05 PM, jason41987 said:why carp? what have carp done? they are primarily vegetation first, eat crustaceans second, and theyre not invasive, theyre naturalized, their numbers have reached an equilibrium with the ecosystem that they are now part of and arent bad to eat either
I have nothing bad to say about native carp species. Asian carp, however, are a different story. I can speak on them, but only poorly. Anyone here who regularly fishes the Mississippi and it's major tributaries can probably provide a lot more insight. The best I can tell, there are major issues with them out-reproducing native species and consuming a lot of vital vegetation and native invertebrates that make up the food chain.
jason41987 reply :
i used to fish on the mississippi often when i was a kid, i dont recall an asian carp issue then, but i am familiar with them as an invasive species and would agree.. but when i hear someone say just carp i think theyre speaking about common carp which i have heard people erroneously hate on out of belief they slaughter baby bass
scaleface reply :
I enjoy every time i catch a dog fish . I will never have Double digit bass but i have a DD Bowfin .
DINK WHISPERER reply :
I have been told by many FWC officers that it is indeed illegal to return a snakehead back into the water alive once captured here in FL. Whether or not it's an actual law I do not know for sure. As for the bowfin, I always release them unharmed. They are really fun to catch and put up a great fight.
@scaleface pics or it never happened ????
scaleface reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 9:22 PM, DINK WHISPERER said:pics or it never happened
Its going to have to go in the it never happened category then . 
DINK WHISPERER reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 9:27 PM, scaleface said:
Its going to have to go in the it never happened category then .
Just teasing ya man. It would be cool to see one that size though. The biggest I've caught was about 4 pounds I think.
scaleface reply :
I have a pic of one that was a little shy of ten .I have caught a bigger one in an ox bow lake off the Mississippi .
This was 38 years ago . Caught on Mississippi river backwater at my favorite beer drinking joint. Cheap De-liar scales had it a nine something .
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 3:32 PM, jason41987 said:i used to fish on the mississippi often when i was a kid, i dont recall an asian carp issue then, but i am familiar with them as an invasive species and would agree.. but when i hear someone say just carp i think theyre speaking about common carp which i have heard people erroneously hate on out of belief they slaughter baby bass
Common carp are overpopulated in a lot of the old reservoirs that mainly exist in Kansas. They cause problems with water clarity from their feeding and spawning that stirs silt and uproots what little vegetation there may be that helps with water clarity and quality. The state spends thousands of dollars each year on a rough fish removal program to net and remove carp from these lakes. They can cause problems with spawning fish if the silt covers eggs in a spawning bed and cause them not to hatch. It's easy to shoot 50-100 carp a day in some of the lakes and none of them will be over 5 pounds because they're so overpopulated. Normally I don't think they're an issue, but the potential is there and I get to witness it firsthand in some cases.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 12/12/2017 at 3:32 PM, jason41987 said:i used to fish on the mississippi often when i was a kid, i dont recall an asian carp issue then, but i am familiar with them as an invasive species and would agree.. but when i hear someone say just carp i think theyre speaking about common carp which i have heard people erroneously hate on out of belief they slaughter baby bass
Common carp aren't native fish, they are from Europe and Asia. The native suckers to America are quillbacks, highfin carpsucker, river carpsucker, northern hog sucker, American redhorse, silver redhorse, buffalo, the list goes on and on. Common carp are an exotic invasive species in North America. The certainly don't slaughter baby bass but they do sequester a lot of resources at the producer level of the food chain that I'm sure has effects all the way up
jason41987 reply :
On 12/13/2017 at 11:16 PM, TnRiver46 said:Common carp aren't native fish, they are from Europe and Asia. The native suckers to America are quillbacks, highfin carpsucker, river carpsucker, northern hog sucker, American redhorse, silver redhorse, buffalo, the list goes on and on. Common carp are an exotic invasive species in North America. The certainly don't slaughter baby bass but they do sequester a lot of resources at the producer level of the food chain that I'm sure has effects all the way up
as i pointed out before, theyre not invasive, as invasive means they are an unstable growing population and a risk to the ecosystem.. carp however are stabilized and reached a point of equilibrium, they are classified as naturalized species
TnRiver46 reply :
On 12/16/2017 at 4:54 AM, jason41987 said:
as i pointed out before, theyre not invasive, as invasive means they are an unstable growing population and a risk to the ecosystem.. carp however are stabilized and reached a point of equilibrium, they are classified as naturalized species
I suppose I could roll with that classification. I personally classify them as way less fun and tasty than game fish. I would like to see a study conducted with two similar watersheds, one with common carp and one without.
jason41987 reply :
On 12/16/2017 at 7:28 AM, TnRiver46 said:I suppose I could roll with that classification. I personally classify them as way less fun and tasty than game fish. I would like to see a study conducted with two similar watersheds, one with common carp and one without.
have you eaten them?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 12/16/2017 at 10:09 AM, jason41987 said:have you eaten them?
Only one bite but I tried to cook it myself. I'm sure someone knows how to make them palatable but I don't. Just the color of the meat was gross
KayakBasser175 reply :
On 12/9/2017 at 6:32 AM, soflabasser said:
The Everglades and surrounding areas is where I catch most of my bowfin so you where in a very good location to fish for them. They love to hit a spinnerbait that is slow rolled on the bottom, jerk baits, flukes, and topwaters worked over or near lily pads. They provide lots of action when at times the bass might not be as active, and in the end of the day I rather have a day filled with catching lots of fish than not catching anything at all.
Where I fish bowfin are found pretty much wherever you find pike and bass
CrankFate reply :
https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/snakeheads.pdf
just throwing this out there on snakeheads from US Fish & Wildlife. I think any snake head caught in the US must be killed in all states.
Every state I looked up said you cannot release them. But bowfin are to be released like any native fish.
I have never seen or caught one of either of them.
dave reply :
On 7/29/2018 at 4:55 AM, CrankFate said:https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/snakeheads.pdf
just throwing this out there on snakeheads from US Fish & Wildlife. I think any snake head caught in the US must be killed in all states.
Every state I looked up said you cannot release them. But bowfin are to be released like any native fish.
I have never seen or caught one of either of them.
My partner and I guide for snakehead in MD and bowfin in VA. I can't begin to explain the ignorance of fisherman (based on flawed information) that we hear on a regular basis. This particular page is case in point to the deceptive language used to encourage killing.
To those who do their due diligence to the truth, kudos. To those who follow ignorance, shame on you, in regards to both to snakehead and bowfin.
ILLEGAL TO POSSESS! No government can legislate mandatory killing.
soflabasser reply :
Best of luck trying to get rid of all the exotic fish in South Florida, which includes snakeheads. They are here to stay and fishing for exotic fish brings millions of dollars to the South Florida economy since many people will glady spend their money to catch exotic fish.
flyfisher reply :
On 7/29/2018 at 4:55 AM, CrankFate said:https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/snakeheads.pdf
just throwing this out there on snakeheads from US Fish & Wildlife. I think any snake head caught in the US must be killed in all states.
Every state I looked up said you cannot release them. But bowfin are to be released like any native fish.
I have never seen or caught one of either of them.
nope, completely wrong.
TOXIC reply :
We just hashed this out in another "keep or kill" thread.
I got villianized by some for killing snakehead at the request of Virginia VDGIF. Here you have the option to return the fish to the water alive or dead but if you decided to keep one it has to be dead. You cannot put a live snakehead in your livewell. VDGIF would rather you kill, keep or not.
Anglers are required to report snakeheads kept but are not required to kill them if caught and immediately released. Snakeheads must be dead if in possession (contained in live well, cooler, etc.) However, the Department asks that all snakeheads be killed if possible. 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 or other VDGIF contact and report the angler’s last name, date of catch, location of catch, and size. Kill the fish by:
- removing the head,
- separating the gill arches from the body, or
- removing the internal organs and put it on ice as quickly as possible.
Junger reply :
On 8/3/2018 at 10:45 PM, TOXIC said:We just hashed this out in another "keep or kill" thread.
I got villianized by some for killing snakehead at the request of Virginia VDGIF. Here you have the option to return the fish to the water alive or dead but if you decided to keep one it has to be dead. You cannot put a live snakehead in your livewell. VDGIF would rather you kill, keep or not.
Anglers are required to report snakeheads kept but are not required to kill them if caught and immediately released. Snakeheads must be dead if in possession (contained in live well, cooler, etc.) However, the Department asks that all snakeheads be killed if possible. 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 or other VDGIF contact and report the angler’s last name, date of catch, location of catch, and size. Kill the fish by:
- removing the head,
- separating the gill arches from the body, or
- removing the internal organs and put it on ice as quickly as possible.
Hopefully you don't feel like I villainized you! I respect your own personal preference to kill a snakehead at the request of VDGIF, but just disagree with any assertion that they "should" be killed because that's what the VDGIF wishes. I see the same thing when people keep large sized bass, they get villainized on social media, but it's clearly within their right to do so.
Offtopic, but I find it ironic that some bass fisherman will tout killing snakehead on social media pages with tons of pictures, but when someone asks them where they were caught....crickets.
TOXIC reply :
That's why the smiley face. It's all good. For the record, I don't intentionally kill or eat largemouth or smallmouth but I respect those who do under the established size and creel limits. We all have a choice within the established laws and regulations.
CrankFate reply :
On 8/3/2018 at 9:13 AM, dave said:My partner and I guide for snakehead in MD and bowfin in VA. I can't begin to explain the ignorance of fisherman (based on flawed information) that we hear on a regular basis. This particular page is case in point to the deceptive language used to encourage killing.
To those who do their due diligence to the truth, kudos. To those who follow ignorance, shame on you, in regards to both to snakehead and bowfin.
ILLEGAL TO POSSESS! No government can legislate mandatory killing.
Yes they can and do. I’m in NY and here’s the regs
https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/fishguide.pdf
I could not find a state with snakehead regs that does not require killing all snakeheads. I checked over a dozen.
CrankFate reply :
On 8/3/2018 at 10:32 AM, flyfisher said:nope, completely wrong.
This is why I hate the internet.
Heres another state that says kill them. Florida.
https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/snakeheads.pdf
south Carolina — keep it do not release
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/invasiveweeds/snakehead.html
Another one that says it’s illegal to release. Texas.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/exotic/snakehead.phtml
Ill stop here. I did check Virginia. VA does not require killing or make them illegal to release.
Junger reply :
MD is also like VA, illegal to possess, but permissible to release to the immediate body of water it was caught from.
flyfisher reply :
On 8/4/2018 at 9:47 AM, CrankFate said:This is why I hate the internet.
Heres another state that says kill them. Florida.
https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/snakeheads.pdf
south Carolina — keep it do not release
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/invasiveweeds/snakehead.html
Another one that says it’s illegal to release. Texas.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/exotic/snakehead.phtml
Ill stop here. I did check Virginia. VA does not require killing or make them illegal to release.
I didn't see anything on FL that was say newer than 2004 that says to kill them there. And actually on the non native species section it tells you how to catch them and that there is no bag limit or size restriction.
TX doesn't even have Snakehead according to your link so of course they don't want you to release them in the wild.
There is no way they can make a law that says to kill anything....can't happen. recommend it sure, advise to do it sure but to have a law that says if you catch this or that you must kill it just isn't there.
I'll stop here.....
CrankFate reply :
I come from NY, where the law is brutal and violent. I intend to kill every snakehead I see.
Chance_Taker4 reply :
I live in Ohio and do my part to kill every Asian Carp I can to try to keep them from the Great Lakes. Also I was in Florida a few months back and hired a guide while down there. He told me and my buddy every snakehead we caught we would kill and dispose of. We caught about 7 that day and every single one we killed and tossed in a dumpster when the day was over. Guide told us he tries to catch and kill 5 snakeheads a day and DNR love him for doing it. The little research I did on them lead to me believe that they are better dead than alive for our fisheries just like the Asian Carp.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 12/16/2017 at 10:09 AM, jason41987 said:have you eaten them?
Yes. In my youth. They have a dark streak down each side. Remove it. Even then they are very "fishy". Only once have I eaten carp and felt it tasted decent. My parents knew this couple that were farmers next to Lamoka Lake. The wife canned the carp. It actually tasted okay.
TOXIC reply :
I grew up on these.
http://www.joetessplace.com/
gnappi reply :
I fish South Florida where in just about any body of water where LMB "were" once plentiful, today they are almost completely gone and the new dominant species is snakeheads or SH in texting vernacular. In these areas the very few fish that are not snakehead are very large LMB or Peacocks. What keeps SH isolated from some LMB habitat are landlocked lakes, which thankfully are still plentiful.
I am not an Ichthyologist but it appears as if the larger bass and peacocks are safe by virtue of their size, but may be unable to reproduce due to SH predation.
Some fishermen are now actually targeting SH and what we do not eat, we kill with a blade in the head. I wish more fishermen who caught them early on and released them had not done so, as it is I can see a day in the not too distant future that the only fish left to catch will be SH's.
What Florida and any other state with SH needs is a Paul Prudhomme (he was instrumental in making redfish popular) to popularize the very good eating SH meat beyond the Asian community who relish it.
For those of you who do not eat them, you're missing a great eating (yes they're ugly and a pain to clean) mostly white, firm and delicately flavored fish. Baked they are just so so, but fried they are stellar.
To prepare, we mix flour and bread crumbs (30/70 proportion) with some grated Italian Locatella cheese, salt (and or some celery salt), pepper and some garlic powder, then fry to a golden color. Add fries and I KNOW you will target them yourself ????
There are a couple of "snakehead roundup" tournaments held down here and they take a lot of fish. I hope posting a link here is OK?
http://www.margatenews.net/13032/319117/a/snakehead-tournament-saturday-all-ages-and-groups-welcome
soflabasser reply :
A lot of people do not seem to understand that baby bullseye snakehead are prey to largemouth and peacock bass, so bass help keep the snakehead population in control.Have seen largemouth bass eating baby snakeheads and the parents could not do much against the bass. Snakehead have been in South Florida for well over 18 years now and they still have not taken over and probably never will since they have way too much competition from the native largemouth bass and the ferocious peacock bass which is a superior fish to the snakehead.
On 8/5/2018 at 2:58 AM, flyfisher said:I didn't see anything on FL that was say newer than 2004 that says to kill them there. And actually on the non native species section it tells you how to catch them and that there is no bag limit or size restriction.
There is no way they can make a law that says to kill anything....can't happen. recommend it sure, advise to do it sure but to have a law that says if you catch this or that you must kill it just isn't there.
It is legal to release snakehead in the exact area you caught it but you are not allowed to transport it alive. At this point it would be best to enjoy fishing for snakeheads since the state does not have the ability to get rid of snakeheads without affecting the native fish that live in the same body of water.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 6:18 AM, soflabasser said:A lot of people do not seem to understand that baby bullseye snakehead are prey to largemouth and peacock bass, so bass help keep the snakehead population in control.Have seen largemouth bass eating baby snakeheads and the parents could not do much against the bass. Snakehead have been in South Florida for well over 18 years now and they still have not taken over and probably never will since they have way too much competition from the native largemouth bass and the ferocious peacock bass which is a superior fish to the snakehead.
It is legal to release snakehead in the exact area you caught it but you are not allowed to transport it alive. At this point it would be best to enjoy fishing for snakeheads since the state does not have the ability to get rid of snakeheads without affecting the native fish that live in the same body of water.
I would like to catch a snakehead, and possibly eat one too. Have you ever tried the meat?
soflabasser reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 12:02 PM, TnRiver46 said:I would like to catch a snakehead, and possibly eat one too. Have you ever tried the meat?
Yes I have eaten bullseye snakehead that I have caught. They taste good but I rather eat the saltwater fish that I catch.The canals that snakeheads live in are contaminated with methylmercury and other pollutants. The true value of the snakehead is the fight it gives and the fact that these fish can be caught on a wide variety of lures.
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