Snakeheads Still Being Caught

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mattawoman Creek

I just wanted to send in a report to let anglers know that snakeheads can still be caught this time of year. On Tuesday, biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service went electrofishing out of Indian Head, MD on Mattawoman Creek. We caught 20 northern snakeheads. They were caught in areas where underwater grasses and/or lily pads were dying off. They were typically in 2-3 feet of water, with a few others in slightly deeper (5-6 ft.) water. If anglers wish to see pictures and reports of some of our electrofishing trips they can check our office Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/MDFisheryResourcesOffice

Tags: northern snakehead

Northern Snakehead Contest Results

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Region:
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Anglers, Thank You for reporting your fishing stories of northern snakehead this year! By killing them and inspiring others to fish and eat them, you folks are the best offense against the spread of this species. We had double the number of entries over last year and a lot more enthusiasm over controlling this invasive species. We had three winners randomly drawn from all of the entries this year, Jerry Lester, Les King, and Kasie Taylor. To read their stories and learn how names were drawn for this contest, I’ve put together a short, 2 minute video at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPdmThFS5_k). I tried to include a photo of everyone who submitted one. This video is going to be posted on our Facebook page, Twitter feed, and circulated through a press release. Keep sending in your reports to fishingreports@dnr.state.md.us because I know a lot of Marylander’s who like to read them.

If ya’ll want to keep up with the snakehead (or other fisheries) that we work with, then please go to our website and opt-in to get that information sent to your email account (http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/emailcontact.asp). It’s also a great way to keep up with regulations and possible changes. In a week or so, we have a meeting with neighboring state agencies and USFWS to discuss snakehead management. Afterwards, I’ll use our email service to send some of our results on the snakehead fishery (a lot coming from your reports) and probably some notes from that meeting. That report, and work we do in the Tidal Bass Program, are also posted on our Tidal Bass website, http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/bass/index.asp.

Tags: northern snakehead

The Great Election Day Catfish Caper

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

No photo this week. Between Hurricane Sandy and the Nor'easter. I caught the outgoing tide in the Potomac on Monday, Nov. 5, to catch 14 blue catfish on cut alewives. No channel cats, 100% invasive alien predator good tasting blue cats were removed from the Maryland eco-system.

However, while distributing the smaller cats on Election Day, my 68 quart marine Coleman cooler was stolen from the back of my '83 Chevy S-15 with three cats 20, 25, and 35 lbs. that were last to be cut. Photos had not been taken yet.

There is a very strict penalty in Southern Maryland for stealing someone's catfish and cooler. I am doing my own investigation as the Sheriff's Dept. has bigger fish to fry.

If you spot a well used marine 68 qt. white Coleman cooler with only one wooden handle and a black and white bungee cord holding down the lid which has broken hinges or someone offers you a good deal on big catfish in Lexington Park, please report to bass21292@yahoo.com. The reward for information leading to arrest of the catfish thieves (I assume there was more than one culprit. That cooler weighed over 80 lbs.) is a year's subscription to the CHESAPEAKE magazine which is Southern Maryland's only monthly tabloid dedicated to fun, fishing, and nonsense.

I look forward to next week's adventures in pursuit of these monstrous invasive alien predators that bite all winter long (the Blue Cats not the thieves). Also, I'm practicing with my modified bowfishing outfit to nail big snakeheads this spring and early summer. Though, I might make a run south to shoot Atlantic Stingrays (windsurfers hate them and the wings are edible) off Merritt Island in Florida when the Big Chill hits. By then, I hope to put the catfish crooks in the County cooler. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. In Lexington Park, lock your fish in the trunk. Larry Jarboe

Tags: blue catfish

Leesylvania State Park Snakeheads

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Leesylvania State Park

On April 24th I caught 5 snakeheads by the Leesylvania State Park. I caught them in the creek behind the powerplant.

Tags: northern snakehead

A Case of the Blues

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

Good thing I got my fishing fix last week because this week is a washout. Hopefully, everyone here has survived the wrath of Sandy.

Last week, I fished the Potomac River twice and also joined Mike Henderson (Mr. Buzz's Marina) and Dan Campbell on the Chesapeake Bay chasing birds and jigging at the edge of those feeding schools.

The lesson we learned on the Bay is to stay with the technique that is producing. Chasing trout after we put a few blues in the cooler was not productive. Better for us to have stayed with the birds and put more bluefish in the cooler.

On the Potomac, my homemade spider rig worked really well with fresh cut alewives to take lots of blue cats out of the eco-system. A 35 pounder is my best so far but I have ordered a much bigger landing net. Now, I'm catching 80% blue catfish and releasing most of the channel cats. Those channels are looking a little scrawney. I think the big blue kitts are crowding out their cousins.

Between the blue cats and Chesapeake snapper (snakeheads) there is enough good eating for me to target these invasive predators for a long long time. I can't wait for the weather to clear. In the meantime, Mike smoked some bluefish that I have been snacking on during the storm. Grilled blue cat for dinner this evening. Having the blues is not as bad as one might think.

Tags: blue catfish

Snakehead For Dinner

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

I caught this 30 inch, 10.5 lb male snakehead Saturday, October 27, 2012 on the Potomac River. It hit a gold Strike King Redeye Shad. This is my first one and it’s a big one, killed and gutted it right away and was absolutely amazed at the size of it organ cavity. It extended all the way to the end of its anal fin. Picture was taken just before I filleted it and can’t believe the amount of meat that came off of this fish. Looking forward to eating it.

Tags: northern snakehead

Mallows Bay Snakeheads

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mallows Bay

I spooked a bunch of snakeheads today, 10/19/2012 and I lost 4 whoppers but I did manage to land these two, 9.5" & 19" long....arch gills removed... Not too much blood on my kayak...I gave them to 2 bank fishermen, one of whom wanted to try eating snakehead for the 1st time. The bigger one took a topwater 5/8oz Live Target frog at 4:30pm, the little one chased down my shallow-running Rapala rattle-minnow at 2pm after I saw it chasing minnows along the shoreline.

Tags: northern snakehead

Young Snakehead in Madison Bay

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Tobacco Stick Creek in Madison Bay

My son, Ben Leib, 9, caught this snakehead fish with a crabbing net in Tobacco Stick Creek in Madison Bay (Little Choptank River) on 10/16. We are from Dover, PA, vacationing in Madison at our parents' summer home.

DNR Response.: Thanks Megan for reporting the snakehead! The one you reported looks young-of-year and probably hatched in late spring/early summer. Last year we received a report of a snakehead being caught in the Little Choptank River as well. I believe a few of the fish are getting there by traveling upstream on Blackwater River. Several have been caught in Nanticoke River, Wicomico River, and one from Blackwater River. Because the species likes to move upstream as far as they can go, it's likely that the fish moved upstream on Blackwater River until it reached the Little Choptank River. Thanks again for catching it and helping to control the species from expanding further than it already has!

Tags: northern snakehead

Perch on Mallows Bay

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mallows Bay

I went to Mallows Bay, it was in the 60's and sunny. No snakeheads for me today but here's a picture of one of numerous 11" yellow perch that I caught. I only kept three big ones and one 10" white perch for dinner.

Tags: white perch, yellow perch