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This reply about exotic fishes in general is a little off topic but seems to apply here. So here goes.
Maryland is one of only a few states that had no naturally occurring freshwater ponds or lakes. Therefore, by default, there is no list of naturally occurring species of fishes that prefer lakes and ponds because, well, there weren't any lakes or ponds in MD. Maryland’s whole freshwater fisheries program is based almost entirely upon species of fish that are exotic to MD, to include: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, walleye, muskies, crappie?, bluegill? as well as a few other sunfish species, channel & blue & flathead cats… and now snakeheads. Keep in mind that the Potomac River was pretty much blocked by Great Falls for 1000s of years that prevented new fishes from invading that river system as the last Ice Age retreated 10,000-15,000 ago.
Also, records of very early introductions are spotty at best. Some notes unearthed in archives indicate that introductions of new species to MD started as early as the 1830s. Most of these very early introductions came from the Ohio drainage, not too far away by wagon train. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, as the railroads spread westward, introduction of exotic fishes back to MD was in full swing and records of such were still spotty. So, concerning other species of MD fishes not listed above, whether they were native or exotic will for ever be in question. I guess the early colonist didn’t have the time, forethought, or paper to keeping records of these introductions. Or if they did keep records, they were lost, or worse, stored somewhere in that giant warehouse where Indian Jones stored the Ark of the Lost Covenant.
Snakeheads seem to be creating quite a buzz among the fishing community the past few years. Internet fishing forums are loaded with snakehead fishing reports to include MD-DNR's "Anglers Log". What’s there not to like about snakeheads. They appear to be a great sport fish. They get bigger than bass, readily hit lures, highly aggressive fighters, and are apparently very good to eat, maybe better than lmbass. So far it seems their preferred habitat is heavily weeded shallow backwaters. Exactly what long-term impact they will have on other game and non-game fishes is yet to be determined.
Maryland is one of only a few states that had no naturally occurring freshwater ponds or lakes. Therefore, by default, there is no list of naturally occurring species of fishes that prefer lakes and ponds because, well, there weren't any lakes or ponds in MD. Maryland’s whole freshwater fisheries program is based almost entirely upon species of fish that are exotic to MD, to include: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, walleye, muskies, crappie?, bluegill? as well as a few other sunfish species, channel & blue & flathead cats… and now snakeheads. Keep in mind that the Potomac River was pretty much blocked by Great Falls for 1000s of years that prevented new fishes from invading that river system as the last Ice Age retreated 10,000-15,000 ago.
Also, records of very early introductions are spotty at best. Some notes unearthed in archives indicate that introductions of new species to MD started as early as the 1830s. Most of these very early introductions came from the Ohio drainage, not too far away by wagon train. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, as the railroads spread westward, introduction of exotic fishes back to MD was in full swing and records of such were still spotty. So, concerning other species of MD fishes not listed above, whether they were native or exotic will for ever be in question. I guess the early colonist didn’t have the time, forethought, or paper to keeping records of these introductions. Or if they did keep records, they were lost, or worse, stored somewhere in that giant warehouse where Indian Jones stored the Ark of the Lost Covenant.
Snakeheads seem to be creating quite a buzz among the fishing community the past few years. Internet fishing forums are loaded with snakehead fishing reports to include MD-DNR's "Anglers Log". What’s there not to like about snakeheads. They appear to be a great sport fish. They get bigger than bass, readily hit lures, highly aggressive fighters, and are apparently very good to eat, maybe better than lmbass. So far it seems their preferred habitat is heavily weeded shallow backwaters. Exactly what long-term impact they will have on other game and non-game fishes is yet to be determined.
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