“Catch & Kill” — Maryland’s New Management Technique for Snakeheads

by Game & Fish Staff • June 1, 2011 • 5 comments

Photo courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Maryland anglers that fish the Potomac River waterways are being asked to help reduce the population of northern snakehead fish, an invasive species that was illegally introduced more than a decade ago.

Even better, anglers that post their kills to the DNR’s Angler’s log from now until the end of the year will have a chance to win prizes for their efforts, including a $200 rod and tackle package.

“We do not want snakeheads in our waters,” said Don Cosden, inland fisheries director for the Maryland DNR. “This initiative is a way to remind anglers that it is important to catch and kill this destructive species of fish.”

DOI. USGS. Southeast Ecological Science Center.

According to wildlife biologists, Northern snakeheads, which can travel short distances on land, are native to Asia and can have a significant impact on the ecosystem and populations of other important recreational and commercially fished species.

If you post an image, the DNR would like as much information as possible about the catch. Please indicate where you caught it and the size of fish using a measuring device.

If the snakehead has a tag inserted in its back, anglers should call 1-800-448-8322 and report the tag number to receive a special edition hat and a certificate from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In Fishing • Tagged ,
  • Dean Atkinson

    If they want you to catch and kill it,why would it have a tag?

    • Dixwell Burnham

      so they can keep tabs on their location and where they are spreading.

  • http://www.halfup.com Daniel

    They taste great too. I think they are also called mudfish. I got it once from a chinese groceries store out of curiosity and fried it. It did not have any fishy flavor and the meat was flaky and white.

  • gary

    Is the snakehead related to the bowfin ? I caught a fish down here in florida and was told it was a bowfin. It had some nasty teeth

  • http://www.fishcaddie.com rodrick smith

    snakeheads and bowfins are different fish

    Snakeheads may be confused with our native bowfin (dogfish) or burbot. Snakehead and bowfin body and fin shapes are very similar. However, there are two distinct differences:

    The snakehead's anal fin is long – about 2/3 the length of the dorsal fin, while the bowfin's anal fin is short – less than one quarter the length of the dorsal fin, and

    The snakehead's pelvic fins are found almost underneath the pectoral fins, while the bowfin's pelvic fins are set back from the pectoral fins. The burbot, like the snakehead, has a long anal fin and pelvic fins actually in front of the pectoral fins, however the burbot has very fine scales and a conspicuous barbel under the chin.