Invasion report

[admwndsr83]

"The SH is such a fun fish to catch, lets kill them all" ??
Hope their not saying this about that other invasive fish around here,,, the LMB

I apologize if it seemed I want to kill them all. I am currently working on learning as much as I can about kayak fishing in this area, without a learned mentor. I hope, this summer, to catch, clean, cook and eat snakehead, but I am of the mindset there is a promising fishery there. Following much of the current studies on the snakehead, including but not limited to a six part series on the topic by Kambotrout on YouTube featuring snakehead guru John Odenkirk, I agree that they are firmly entrenched in the area and offer a thrilling new fishery that I hope to be a part of. My suggestion of a SnaggedLine catch party was honestly my way of trying to learn more about the area, kayak fishing in general, and snakehead fishing specifically.

[Slackdaddy]

I did look at the link, problem is there is no "date" it was written, and it is by the USGS (Feds), not the local biologist (State).
The article says the SH "might" compete with native fish.
This was a fear 10 years ago, but state biologist have found that the SH is coexisting with with the native species and even the other invasive species (LMB)

Did not realize that we were referring to the PRB specifically. My bad on the bass.

Here is a good article I found on snakehead a couple months ago. It explains what I want to say and saves the the typing[emoji16].

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-p...ience_products

Also at this point they are so well established and multiply so much it is near impossible to “kill off” the population.


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[Slackdaddy]

Understood,
they are a great fish to catch, and they have brought "Fishing" to areas that were not worth fishing before, because the SH can/will live in areas of lower oxygen that other species are not plentiful in.
My beef is with people (posting on SH facebook groups) posting pictures of 15 SH on their tailgate from 6" to 20", saying you have to kill everyone of them.
Could you imagine a picture of 15 dead LMB on a tailgate??

I apologize if it seemed I want to kill them all. I am currently working on learning as much as I can about kayak fishing in this area, without a learned mentor. I hope, this summer, to catch, clean, cook and eat snakehead, but I am of the mindset there is a promising fishery there. Following much of the current studies on the snakehead, including but not limited to a six part series on the topic by Kambotrout on YouTube featuring snakehead guru John Odenkirk, I agree that they are firmly entrenched in the area and offer a thrilling new fishery that I hope to be a part of. My suggestion of a SnaggedLine catch party was honestly my way of trying to learn more about the area, kayak fishing in general, and snakehead fishing specifically.

[Mark]

Yesterday's MD Fishing Report published by the DNR addressed snakeheads like any other fish we pursue. See here:

https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2019/0...port-april-24/

Notice the word "nice" in the caption of one of two photos of anglers with snakeheads. The guidance on where and how to catch them in the story was evenhanded with no plea to rid our local waters of a menace. Also notice that there was no mention of the need to kill them. Indeed, there is no MD requirement to kill them. There is a prohibition of transporting them to other waters.

The story does link to dated pages on the MD DNR site which still refer to snakeheads as a "problem". Reading those pages is a good example of how our ideas can change on issues over time when reality does not comply with prediction.

The tone of the yesterday's MD Fishing Report tells me that snakeheads are nearing a time when they will be receive the respect of other fish we regularly pursue. I hope that will stop their wanton slaughter by so-called "sportsmen" who think photos of endless lines of dead snakeheads prove their prowess as anglers. Such photos prove a lot of things to me, but none of them have anything to do with fishing.

[DanMarino]

The Blue Catfish seem like huge eating machines with zero predators. I've seen a bass and snakehead caught from the same downed tree within 15 minutes of each other.

[CarsonNash]

I did look at the link, problem is there is no "date" it was written, and it is by the USGS (Feds), not the local biologist (State).
The article says the SH "might" compete with native fish.
This was a fear 10 years ago, but state biologist have found that the SH is coexisting with with the native species and even the other invasive species (LMB)

Sorry if I made my point unclear. I did not realize how the views on snakehead have evolved, but I guess if it is proven they have minimal impacts on the environment then it makes sense to no longer go after them with a vengeance. I never meant to say that we need to kill them off. They make a fun catch and (apparently) good table fare. If low population numbers ever become a problem, then the MDNR would possibly enact and enforce a limit. But until then they have a very healthy population established. (Not to say that can’t be demolished by those going out and keep every one they catch) I rarely keep any of the fish I catch, that goes for every species. I fish for the sport, not the food. If snakehead reach a point where they are regarded as a established and non threatening species, I am all for it. Like you said, they make a fun new challenge and live in places where there would be no fish otherwise. I was basing my opinion on old “facts” and info and thus thought they should not be treated like another game fish. Apologies.

[gliebig]

snek2.jpg

This one got the ticker pumpin.

[belairfishing]

Received this today from MD DNR

https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2019/0...h-information/

[gliebig]

SH I recently caught primarily had crawfish in the belly.

[admwndsr83]

Was out yesterday at a known snakehead haunt trying for my first. Had live minnows, and watched 3 others caught on the same live minnows, but I could not entice one. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Hope to find some Saturday if the wind lets me out!

[gliebig]

Was out yesterday at a known snakehead haunt trying for my first. Had live minnows, and watched 3 others caught on the same live minnows, but I could not entice one. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Hope to find some Saturday if the wind lets me out!

You gotta get way back in the thick stuff

[Slackdaddy]

Not to be a "snob",, OK I am,, Leave the Bobber and bait to the kiddies,, pitch weedless soft lures up in the thick stuff, If it's clear enough run a "noise" lure along the edge. etc.
Use google maps/earth to find potential spots and hit em.
I will pick out 4-5 spots and spend at least two mornings or evenings at each before writing em off. sometimes takes 5,6,7 spots to find a productive one. That is all part of "fishing"
I'm trying a new one out in PG Saturday. My son and I will spend 8 hours on this trip, it may or may not produce,, but the anticipation is what keeps me going

Was out yesterday at a known snakehead haunt trying for my first. Had live minnows, and watched 3 others caught on the same live minnows, but I could not entice one. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Hope to find some Saturday if the wind lets me out!

[YakMan1731]

Not to be a "snob",, OK I am,, Leave the Bobber and bait to the kiddies,, pitch weedless soft lures up in the thick stuff, If it's clear enough run a "noise" lure along the edge. etc.
Use google maps/earth to find potential spots and hit em.
I will pick out 4-5 spots and spend at least two mornings or evenings at each before writing em off. sometimes takes 5,6,7 spots to find a productive one. That is all part of "fishing"
I'm trying a new one out in PG Saturday. My son and I will spend 8 hours on this trip, it may or may not produce,, but the anticipation is what keeps me going

I'm with you here. My two big knocks on the minnow/bobber situation are 1) It's slow fishing. Cast and wait. Cast and wait. You don't cover a lot of ground, and even if you try to be quick you still aren't covering as much as casting lures. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the spot you're fishing, you really should cover water, taking long casts and working lures. It's the best way to zero in on what they want and where they are concentrated. And 2) For me, the biggest draw to snakehead fishing are the blowups! What other fish creates a submarine-style wave as it stalks your topwater buzzbait or frog? And then EXPLODES on it like that bait slapped its momma. I'll gladly cast lures all day for 5-10 snakes rather than sit back and watch a bobber catch 20-30 of them. Buy some Stanley Ribbits in white, get some large, strong Texas rig hooks, and chuck that sucker into the veggies. It's always worth it! Just my two cents.

[gliebig]

I don't know how people are even using a minnow under a bobber. I caught all of my fish, including a 14# in like 6" of water.

Does anyone catch any SH in the pads out from the shoreline? I spooked some there, but never got a hit. All mine came from back in the skinny stuff as far as I could reach.

[admwndsr83]

I don't know how people are even using a minnow under a bobber. I caught all of my fish, including a 14# in like 6" of water.

Does anyone catch any SH in the pads out from the shoreline? I spooked some there, but never got a hit. All mine came from back in the skinny stuff as far as I could reach.

They are being caught more and more from the shoreline at my go-to spot in the Gunpowder. Three were caught there in a couple hours the other day that I saw, all on a minnow. I usually drag a minnow tipped jighead across the bottom there, but I can't wait to get out and throw some lures for them!