Invasive Snakehead Record Broken in Maryland

When Maryland angler Andy Fox saw the big fish while night bowfishing on Mattawoman Creek, he said, "That's the biggest snakehead I've ever seen."

It ended up being the biggest snakehead ever caught in the state.

The Mechanicsville resident, 41, is now the owner of a state invasive species record in Maryland — a 19.9-pound, 35-plus-inch northern snakehead that beat the previous record of 18.42 pounds caught in 2016, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The record catch came May 24 while Fox was fishing with a couple of friends.

The Maryland agency said in a news release that Fox and friends were hopeful of some great fishing action because of favorable tides, but recent rains made visibility nearly impossible until he caught a glimpse of the fish via the boat's lights.

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At first, he thought it was a carp, but soon realized it was a huge "frankenfish."

He made quick work with his bow and hauled in the record-breaker, which was officially weighed and certified by the DNR.

He plans to have the fish mounted.

Northern snakeheads are considered an invasive species in Maryland. Current regulations prohibit the importation, possession and transporting of live snakeheads. Anglers are encouraged to catch-and-harvest snakeheads immediately or to release them back in the exact location they were found. There is no minimum size or creel limit, and they can be harvested year-round. To learn more, visit the state's invasive species page.

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