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James Berry, Recreational Angler - Chesapeake Beach, Md
- Total Reports: 24
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Posted on May 31, 2013 | Permalink
Where's the SAV in the Potomac?
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River
I went bowfishing on Monday the 27th of May on the Potomac River. I was able to get several snakehead fish including a couple tagged ones. There does not seem to be much SAV this year and as a result most creeks remain muddy. I wonder if it is late in growing or will it grow at all this year.
DNR Response: Most of the SAV in the Potomac are tuber-forming perennials, so they return reliably to the same spots year after year. It's likely that the relatively cool spring resulted in later than normal emergence of SAV from the sediment, which combined with the muddy water could slow growth. May/June is when the Potomac grasses typically reach full canopy, so I would expect to see rapidly increasing coverage of SAV over the next month.
Posted on May 15, 2013 | Permalink
Lots of Female Snakeheads
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River
On Thursday the 9th of May I went bowfishing on the Potomac River for Snakeheads. This time out I saw tons of Snakeheads and they seemed to be spawning. I killed 7 of them. Most were full of eggs but a couple looked like they had just dropped their eggs. I have a question for DNR. Do you find male Snakehead fish with white sperm sacks in them like other fish have when you clean them? I have killed plenty and never seem to find any males, in fact they always seem to be full of eggs.
DNR Response: There are definitely males with testis that produce sperm. The sperm or milt is likely whitish. I know it is difficult to find the testis in a male. Because eggs are more obvious to the naked eye, it's easier to identify a female sometimes.
Posted on May 7, 2013 | Permalink
Another Tagged Snakehead
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River
I went bow fishing on Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th of May. I caught several Snakeheads including another tagged one. I shot one Snakehead that had eaten a Gizzard Shad that was still hanging out of his month. I could not pull the fish out, I took these photos after I cleaned the fish. It was a mouth full to say the least. All of these fish were taken on the Potomac River. I have also called in the fish with the tag.
Posted on May 1, 2013 | Permalink
Another Tagged Snakehead
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River Creek
I was able to arrow some more Snakeheads on Friday the 26th of April. The one in this picture was tagged. I think it was a good idea to change the tag color to the bright orange. It makes them very easy to see. I have called in this fish already. I did notice a lot of bass starting to bed and I am not seeing as many snakeheads as in past years.
Posted on April 15, 2013 | Permalink
Large Potomac Snakeheads
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River
I went bow fishing for Snakehead fish on Saturday the 14th of April. I caught 7 fish including a 16 and 15 pounder.
Posted on April 12, 2013 | Permalink
Bow Fishing For Snakeheads
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River
It looks like the weather has finally broke and some snakeheads have showed up. I killed a few with a bow on Wednesday the 10th. The one in this photo was tagged and I have called it in already.
Posted on September 13, 2012 | Permalink
A Day of Rockfish and Snakeheads
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River and Potomac Creek
I started my fishing trip yesterday the 12th of September at the 301 bridge on the Potomac. Using a rattle trap and a top water red fin I caught plenty of rockfish on the rip rap breaks. The fish were between 16 to 24 inches and they really bit when the tide was creating a rip. After getting my limit of rockfish I ran up to Potomac Creek and shot 2 snakehead fish with my bow. I have never targeted both rock and snakehead in the same day. Seeing a couple snakehead and rockfish in the same cooler is very weird and to think they now live in the same body of water is even weirder.
Posted on August 13, 2012 | Permalink
Tagged Snakehead in Aquia Creek
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Aquia Creek
I got 4 snakehead yesterday the 9th of August. One of them was tagged and I called it in. it was taken in Aquia Creek, the tagged number was 01285. The fish was 28 inches and 7 pounds 4 ounces. That was the only fish I saw in Aquia. The rest of the fish were taken alone the shore line of the river.
Posted on August 10, 2012 | Permalink
Snakehead Data Collection
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Region:
Location:
I went bow hunting snakehead fish on August 3rd. I have not been after these fish in a month or so and I only saw this one fish. I have heard from several friends that you just don't see them like you did earlier in the year. I know there is more grass for them to hide in, but I also believe there are a lot more people targeting them and their numbers are down. Maybe we are starting to have an effect on their numbers.
I have a question for MD DNR. Has there been enough data collected to compare their numbers over the last few years and if so what are the findings? Thank you for your time.
DNR Response: Thanks for getting out there and targeting snakeheads. We do have some catch estimates for snakehead, but there hasn't been a survey designed to do a good job of monitoring their populations just yet. We will be working with USFWS, VADGIF, and DC Fisheries this fall to help develop that type of monitoring program. The USFWS does have some data on snakehead catches and changes in distribution of the fish in the Potomac. It's possible, given a few more years, that we'll see a drop in those catches or shrinkage of that distribution. That may just be a hope of mine; I tend to be optimistic. Thanks again for getting out there!
Posted on June 21, 2012 | Permalink
Snakehead Filleting Tips
Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Smallwood State Park
I got 5 snakehead with my bow and 3 of them were at night. I was bow fishing out of Smallwood on Friday June 15th into Saturday morning. I wanted to share some things I have picked up when it comes to cleaning these fish. The first thing is to treat them like any other fish you would plan to eat, get them on ice as soon as you have done what it takes to kill them. As anyone that has processed a snakehead knows they are very slimy. When I can I will take them off the ice and put them on a rack in an old fridge I have (still works) so the outside of them dries over night, makes them a lot easier to deal with the next day. If that can't be done I have found it better to take an old towel and try to wipe them dry rather than to hose off the slim. Another trick is to run a screw up from the bottom side of your fish cleaning table. I take the fish by the head and smack it down over the screw, this is like having a third hand to hold the fish still while you are trying to fillet it. The screw is also helpful when skinning the fillet, I make a tiny hole with my fillet knife at the small end of the piece of fish and push it over the screw. It will also be like having a third hand to keep the fillet from sliding away while you are trying to skin it. I hope someone will find these tips useful, they have saved me many hours.
