DNR & Snakeheads

[buzz]

DNR & Snakeheads

From what Don Cosden told me, the "loop hole" is there because they can't force you to kill an animal.

Yet they would prefer that you kill any and all snakeheads, blue catfish, & flathead catfish.


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[wfauby]

FYI, smallmouth bass aren't native to the Potomac either.

C'mon, there is no comparison.

[wfauby]

For those who don't keep a knife on their yak or don't have the heart to kill an "invasive" species there is always PETA...Partial Equipped Tournament Anglers.

[imagine29028]

Much to the chagrin of many...if I ever catch one I plan on releasing it.

The species is here to stay, its a part of our eco-system now. Its detriments were laregely over blown out of control. The effects they have, are minimal at best, and they have slotted into the ecosystem of MD & Virginia waters.

[buzz]

On the other hand. I plan to ruthlessly kill every single one that I catch.

Regardless of whether or not they're here to stay, I support our local fisheries administration. And if they want me to kill them, I'll kill them.

Other species have been wiped out by over-fishing. No reason why that can't happen with the snakeheads.


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[Memory Maker]

If you against killing fish the you shouldn't be fishing .......... Hooks only do harm ........ Your hands taking off slime does harm ....... And badly hooked fish die even the ones with barbless hooks ....... KILL THE SNAKEHEAD ........ Or give it to me so I can do it .......... They spawn several times a year ....... They WILL have an impact just by the sheer numbers from spawning ........ Look how many there are after just a few years of spawning

[DanMarino]

C'mon, there is no comparison.

The comparison is factual. Walleye, muskellunge too.
I love fishing for those non-invasive fallfish!
There is no comparison.

[Cody]

What damage do snakehead actually cause? Are they really that big of a problem?


Pompano 120

[Cowpokey]

FWIW; there are only a couple (striped bass and chain pickerel) gamefish that were not "introduced" to the Potomac. Sure there are species that have been eradicated due to overfishing; I don't see that happening with the snakehead, they are way too resilient. Just my opinion; I'm not a marine biologist, nor do I play one on tv...I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night either.

http://www.potomacriver.org/wildlife...shList0213.pdf

[VuDism]

It has been 10+ years since the first snakehead was caught... to this day... I see more BASS caught than snakehead. Even without people purposely going out to hunt and kill snakehead.. there are plenty of people netting and hunting these fish at Chain Bridge as a food source.

Not trying to start an issue, just my opinion on this matter... i think it is kinda messed up to go out trying to kill a fish just to kill a fish. yea... these fishes aren't "native" to American waters, but many other fishes under protective law aren't native either. They aren't crocs or poisonous snakes that are a threat to human life... they are awesome fish to catch via hook and line... better than bass IMO, they taste great, and for the past decade, they have NOT had a any real noticeable effect on the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

We humans and our waste that washes into the waters are the BIGGEST threat to the ecosystem, and not to get political and go back in history... but we as "AMERICANS" aren't "NATIVE" to these waters either. . . just sayin'

with that said, people can do whatever they want. Hunt and kill as much as your yak can hold, but the Snakehead is here to stay forever. From the stories my father told me about Snakehead fishing in their native land in Vietnam... they are extremely over-fished there... but they are doing just fine. They are extremely resilient. They just don't live long enough to become huge in size. Fish are still plenty but many don't live long enough to grow large before they are caught. He said he doesn't see Snakehead get as large in Vietnam as they do here in America.

[buzz]

There's a big difference between introducing smallmouth bass and snakehead.
The smallmouth bass is indigenous to the US. The snakehead is not.

10 years is nothing. I think it was mentioned before. Let's see what happens in 50 years. By then snakeheads may dominate the Potomac and totally wipe out the largemouth bass... or not.
Who knows? But then why wait to find out? Sure would be a shame if they started gobbling up all the striper fingerlings.

I don't see anything wrong with folks killing them since that is what the DNR and the US Fish & Wildlife Service would prefer.
Maybe the snakehead is here to stay, but that doesn't mean we have to let them proliferate. Did you ever think that maybe the only reason they haven't taken over so far is that people are killing them when caught? That bow hunting guy might be making all the difference.

I will kill snakeheads because that's what DNR wants me to do.
Personal opinion on the overall effect of the snakehead in our environment is irrelevant.

[VuDism]

There's a big difference between introducing smallmouth bass and snakehead.
The smallmouth bass is indigenous to the US. The snakehead is not.

10 years is nothing. I think it was mentioned before. Let's see what happens in 50 years. By then snakeheads may dominate the Potomac and totally wipe out the largemouth bass... or not.
Who knows? But then why wait to find out? Sure would be a shame if they started gobbling up all the striper fingerlings.

I don't see anything wrong with folks killing them since that is what the DNR and the US Fish & Wildlife Service would prefer.
Maybe the snakehead is here to stay, but that doesn't mean we have to let them proliferate. Did you ever think that maybe the only reason they haven't taken over so far is that people are killing them when caught? That bow hunting guy might be making all the difference.

I will kill snakeheads because that's what DNR wants me to do.
Personal opinion on the overall effect of the snakehead in our environment is irrelevant.

It is all well and good.

You know... Police also wants everyone to follow the posted speed limits... but all because it says 55 mph on I270 does not mean it makes any sense to drive that slow.

[RockFlag&Eagle37]

I do not think there's a snowball's chance in hell that snakeheads will ever be eradicated from the Potomac/Bay. They're too tough to catch and too fertile. That being said, I do think that anglers removing a healthy amount of them will slow down the population growth which is beneficial for the ecosystem to thrive. I feel the same way about Blue Catfish and Flathead catfish. They're too efficient at feeding and making babies. I, personally, will kill all of the snakeheads I catch (whenever I finally figure them out!) because I know how good they taste.

As mentioned before, 10 years is really a very small snapshot of effect on an ecosystem, therefore it is hard to definitely say they are causing no detriment. I support killing them and I think that it's the correct thing to do. If you don't wish to eat them, I'd be willing to bet that there are plenty of folks you could give them to. I haven't researched it but I would be willing to bet that they could even be donated to halfway houses or homeless shelters. I was part of a group that caught a lot of tautog and after taking what we could eat, it was donated somewhere down in Worcester County. Just something to think about, killing it doesn't mean that you have to just kill it and let it rot (although there are PLENTY of scavenging animals that wouldn't be upset about a free meal)

MemoryMaker makes a great point as well, if you are very anti-kill for fish, maybe fishing isn't the sport for you. Although we've turned it into a sport and mortality rates are lower, keep in mind that fishing started as a means to kill for food.

[Snakehead Hunter]

Well I'm allowed to keep up to 5 bass. So I'll just keep the 5 biggest one I caught. I don't eat them but there are plenty of people fishing from shore would love to have them.

[VuDism]

I do not think there's a snowball's chance in hell that snakeheads will ever be eradicated from the Potomac/Bay. They're too tough to catch and too fertile. That being said, I do think that anglers removing a healthy amount of them will slow down the population growth which is beneficial for the ecosystem to thrive. I feel the same way about Blue Catfish and Flathead catfish. They're too efficient at feeding and making babies. I, personally, will kill all of the snakeheads I catch (whenever I finally figure them out!) because I know how good they taste.

As mentioned before, 10 years is really a very small snapshot of effect on an ecosystem, therefore it is hard to definitely say they are causing no detriment. I support killing them and I think that it's the correct thing to do. If you don't wish to eat them, I'd be willing to bet that there are plenty of folks you could give them to. I haven't researched it but I would be willing to bet that they could even be donated to halfway houses or homeless shelters. I was part of a group that caught a lot of tautog and after taking what we could eat, it was donated somewhere down in Worcester County. Just something to think about, killing it doesn't mean that you have to just kill it and let it rot (although there are PLENTY of scavenging animals that wouldn't be upset about a free meal)

MemoryMaker makes a great point as well, if you are very anti-kill for fish, maybe fishing isn't the sport for you. Although we've turned it into a sport and mortality rates are lower, keep in mind that fishing started as a means to kill for food.

Never said I wouldn't kill a fish. I got into kayak fishing specifically to get in better position to catch a snakehead to eat it. I fish for the fight and for the food.

But... Let's say I caught 2 snakehead and feel that is enough. Then I catch a 3rd... Don't need him.. I'll release him.