Snakehead Myths abd facts
July 16, 2024
Woodbridge
5 photos



Trip Summary
Trip Summary
My boat has literally caught hundreds of northern snakeheads on artificial lures. Ive spent hundred and hundreds of hours on the potomac river specifically targeting northern snakeheads. Ive been on dnr committees and have direct contact with biologists that i can ask specific questions and get specific answers as far as snakehead surveys and behaviors. Here are some myth destroying facts :
1. Snakeheads can walk on land - no they cant. They can wiggle and can live out of water for a period of time because they can get oxygen through water and air but they cant “walk” on land.
2. Snakeheads spawn multiple times a year - there is absolutely no evidence that a female northern snakehead living in the potomac is capable of spawning mire than 1 time a year. There are many fish that spaen multiple tines a year - mostly prey fish like bluegill. However, ive talked to federal, state and snskehesd “experts” and biologists that have absolutely no evidence that a femake snakehead can develop a egg sack, spawn and have fry more than once a year.
3. Go to asia to catch the biggest northern snakeheads - false false. The biggest snajeheads in the world have for the most part come from the Potomac River. The past four world records were caught from the potomac until recently when a new record came from the blackwater eastern shore of maryland area.
4. Snakeheads make circular nests on bottom to spawn - no they dont. They maje a floating nest of vegetation for eggs. A circular spot on the bottom is not ftom a snakehead.
5. It is illegal to let a snakeheaf go - no its not. Its only illegal to transport a live snakehesd. You must either kill or immediately release a snakehead brought to the boat. Although the dnr will encourage you to kill sll snskeheads / you should understsnd thst these same dnr shock and then relesse snakeheads during surveys. These same dnrs release false info on snakeheads- such ss they spawn multiple times a year.
6. Snakeheads are aggresive and easy to catch - false. Snakeheads are extremely pressured on the potomac by fishermen and bow hunting. The snakehead fry ate easy to spot and tgen kill their protective parents. They have adapted over the years to this pressure by living in extremely heavy cover and aware of boats, anglers and even certain lures. They may be “easy” in tbe itrigation ditches of the eastern shore but they are a chalkengr on the potomac.
There is few tbings as exciting as watching a snakehead chasing an artificial lure. Quit watching u tube and telling me how much you know from tv. Get on the water and show me how much you know. You might learn thst you know very little.