Potomac River Snakeheads 2024

rondef reply :

I just figured I would let you guys know that the snakeheads are plentiful down in the bays at Quantico MCB. I caught three and lost a fourth this morning, all on rage tail toads. Any time one of the toads was left sitting for more then a few seconds, the toad got picked up and inhaled by the snakeheads. My buddy also hooked two snakeheads on ribbit frogs, so we caught a total of five.

We should get a group of guys together to go out one day to hunt them down, catch them and then kill them. These fish are NOT suppossed to be in the Potomac River. I have already caught six of these invasive fish.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

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These fish are NOT suppossed to be in the Potomac River. I have already caught six of these invasive fish.

Bass are an invasive species in the Potomac too...

Sam reply :

Bass are invasive all over the world other than in the regions that supported them in the first place, such as the central USA.

But that is not the issue.

The issue is that Snakeheads are not a fish that we want in our Virginiq waters and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has asked all fishermen to kill all Snakeheads caught within the state.

More investigation is needed to find out the damage the Snakeheads do to the fish populace and environment before a final verdict is issued.

As for now, it is open season on Snakeheads.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

What is the penalty for releasing them if you catch one?

Sam reply :

John,

I have no idea of any penalty for releasing them.

Maybe the VDGIF web site has the information.

If you catch one, go home and cook it and let us know how it tastes.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

Eat something out of the Potomac? Sir, no sir...

71Rig reply :

Hey Ron,

Was out on the Occoquan river last Monday and we think we saw one (a big one) in the shallows finning up a storm. Very dark in color with a ribbon like dorsal fin extending to the tail. It was in shallow water above the dense weed beds. We weren't rigged with topwater baits so the few casts that we could get off were fruitless. I do like the idea of a snakehead tournament though. Could be fun.

SimonSays reply :

hmm, I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into one!

Hung up Paul reply :

I think I know what the maiden voyage in my jon boat will be taking me. Sounds like a lot of fun to catch those. Whoever thinks that they are not here to stay is crazy. Catch and kill them fine... but it will not eliminate them. They'll reach a natural balance in the ecosystem in time.

rondef reply :

The snakeheads stay in water that is typically less than 2.5 feet deep. They will hit any plastic that are thrown their way in the shallow water (they love the hydrilla mats and lilly pads) and are left motionless for more than a few seconds. So if you throw the bait, move it a little bit and then let it sit for a few seconds it will most likely will get picked up by a snakehead. I can tell you they are a lot of fun to catch, but they also have some nasty k9 teeth and you need to be careful handling them as I am sure that it would not be pretty if you got bit by one. They are like a pit bull and they do not like to open their mouth when you try to remove your hook and bait.

I think the idea of a snakehead tournament would be a lot of fun and I am even thinking about approaching VDGIF about the idea. I know some areas that are holding quite a few of these fish right now that we could all go out and have some fun catching them. If anyone wants to go snakehead fishing let me know and I will be more than glad to take you out.

71Rig, My biggest snakehead was caught in the Occoquan near the Fairfax Yatch Club, he weighed 7 pounds. There are some big snakeheads out there to be caught and the fights are awesome.

A.Do? reply :

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I think I know what the maiden voyage in my jon boat will be taking me. Sounds like a lot of fun to catch those. Whoever thinks that they are not here to stay is crazy. Catch and kill them fine... but it will not eliminate them. They'll reach a natural balance in the ecosystem in time.

MAIDEN VOYAGE!

I've always wanted to fish for Snakeheads! I personally think they're beautiful fish (I'm a big keeper of monster fish in the aquarium) and would love to see one in real life. I recognize that they don't belong in the potomac yet and that the DGIF asks us to kill them, so if I do catch one, it's life must end there :-/

Ron, are you fishing braid? How are the teeth on non-braided lines?

rondef reply :

Andrew,

I had these snakeheads cut through both mono and Stren 30lb microfuse braided line. If I was going out to target these I would use the steel leader, that way they won't cut your line. Keep in mind these are a lot of fun to catch, they fight extremely hard.

As for the ones I caught yesterday, they are now water fowl food on the shore line, I cut their bellies open and gutted them.

Sam reply :

Hey Ron,

If we go out next week we can check out the bass and then fish for Snakeheads.

Will double check my schedule and we can make plans.

Did Jason's wife have the baby????

rondef reply :

Sam,

I am up for fishing for bass, if the bite gets real slow and you want to fish for snakeheads we can, I prefer to fish for bass. I am looking forward to getting together to fish with you so I can learn some new techniques and secrets on bass fishing from you, I still have a lot to learn. I have only been targeting bass for 1.5 years but I have been fishing since I was a kid. I would like to schedule a snakehead outing one day where we get a few boats out and we all try to catch and kill as many as possible, it could be a lot of fun.

Jay and his wife are still waiting on the baby, they are down to a month an couting. His wife does not want him to head out to far from home as the hospital ride from Dumfries to Alexandria could take some time wit traffic, never mind waiting for him to come back from a trip out on the Potomac.

SimonSays reply :

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Sam,
I am up for fishing for bass, if the bite gets real slow and you want to fish for snakeheads we can, I prefer to fish for bass. I am looking forward to getting together to fish with you so I can learn some new techniques and secrets on bass fishing from you, I still have a lot to learn. I have only been targeting bass for 1.5 years but I have been fishing since I was a kid. I would like to schedule a snakehead outing one day where we get a few boats out and we all try to catch and kill as many as possible, it could be a lot of fun.

Jay and his wife are still waiting on the baby, they are down to a month an couting. His wife does not want him to head out to far from home as the hospital ride from Dumfries to Alexandria could take some time wit traffic, never mind waiting for him to come back from a trip out on the Potomac.

I'm definitely interested in a snake head outing, anything that fights hard as I'm reeling in is fun for me. And I still definately want to sink my teeth into one, lemme know when you guys try for some one weekend!

yak fishing for snakeheads sounds like major fun

rondef reply :

Simon, just let me know when you want to go snakehead fishing.

atx_newbie reply :

I hadn't heard of this fish before until reading this thread, so I did some reading, and I was definitely

For one thing, that fish is scary looking, and I grew up catching a lot of alligator gar in the cutoff lakes of the lower Mississippi River. Second, it can live out of the water for up to 3 days as long as it is kept damp?!? And even travel across land to move from one body of water to the next? We're doomed!

Haha no I'm sure that the ecosystem will balance out, but man. That fish is scary

Micro reply :

Rondef, you gotta get some pics of these snakeheads. I'm not happy they are in our waters, but I'm pretty happy that they're such fun and gamey fish. I *** you guys that live close enough to fish for them often.

rondef reply :

Here is the biggest one I have caught it was 7lbs.

NitroMan reply :

I'm gonna catch me one of those bas tards tomorrow!!! LOL

SimonSays reply :

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Here is the biggest one I have caught it was 7lbs.

Wow, minus the ugly face....they actually look rather pretty! The color and markings look nice =D

c17Lat reply :

rondef, how long was that 7 lber u caught? I caught my first last week in pohick bay. i don't have a scale but it was 24 inches.

pebbles reply :

Hi... Newcomer to the forum. I stumbled on this thread in search of the largest recorded snakehead fish caught in the Potomac River region.

I became exited after a coworker caught a snakehead. Our organization's website had this fish posted as "Photo of the Week". I had no idea they could grow so large. This behemoth measured out to 20 lbs and 35 inches and took 30 minutes to reel in. The angler stated that he thought it was a bass until it surfaced.

I don't want to distribute the picture without the owner's permission. (Andrew has seen it).

My question to you all:

What's the largest recorded snakehead to be caught in the Potomac and its tributaries?

PS - This fish was caught in the Belvoir Basin (I don't know if this means Accotink Bay or Dogue Creek... I'm leaning towards the bay due to the scenery in the photo). I'll try to get details tomorrow along with permission to post the photo.

I may want to join you guys in your hunt!

eddieinva reply :

WOW I REALLLY WANT TO CATCH/Kill That.. looks like a killer fight...

JCrzy4Bass reply :

Hey pebbles, my buddy Troy has caught over 10 in the Accotink Bay area from shore. Him and one of his park ranger buddies that works at Lake Accotink fish for them regularly. Apparently with the electrofishing they did a while back in Accotink Creek leading up to the bay they are finding too many of these guys to record. No one is sure how it is effecting the ecology of this waterway but I'm sure it can't be too good. I know we already had this debate though so ::lips zipped::

Anyway, it doesn't surprise me you caught one out there. Be prepared to catch many more if you continue making trips out that way. Later man. Apparently they love spinnerbaits and any type of falling plastics (as far as I've heard from others who catch them regularly).

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Potomac River Snakeheads 2024

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