Thoughts on Snakeheads and other invasive fish

[CrX970]

Just to chime in on spotted (Kentucky) bass. They were "illegally" introduced to a mid sized lake near me. My family has fished this lake since it was built and the bass fishing was always mediocre. My father, who was an avid bass fisherman for many years, told me the biggest bass he ever caught out of there was a 3.75 pound largemouth many years ago. However, in the past year I've caught a 5.5 pound largemouth and a 6 pound smallmouth out of the same lake, as well as many 3-4 pound spots. I asked around (even though I can't find it officially) and the lake record bass is a 13 pound largemouth and a 9 pound smallmouth. Not to mention this lake also has an EXPLODING flathead and crappie fishery.

So, as was stated, mother nature will adapt and in most cases, thrive. However, when it comes to fish that mass reproduce with no natural predators and people don't want to eat, that's where your problem is (ie. Asian carp). Which, the way snakeheads protect their young along with their adaptability, could also make this a problem.

[Jeff Little]

It's a problem no doubt. The question is "what can be done about it?" If the answer truly is "nothing", well we might as well catch them, eat them, enjoy them. The danger there is that people may do more "bucket biologist" type stuff and transport them if we do too good a job of promoting snakehead fishing. Transport of live snakehead or other species is the clearly illegal act that both states have in place. Killing them on the spot isn't frequently done. I watched a bass boater catch one and stick it in the livewell, saying to his buddy, "I deal with that later". Well, I hope he wasn't stopped by DNR. I get it. Tournament situation, time is money, don't want the blood and slime all over the carpet of your glitter rocket. If there were a market at the boat ramps bass boaters used and they could get a few bucks for fresh snakehead, then you might have something that would put a more serious dent in the population. Recoup some of your gas $. Right now, the allure of possibly winning the $200 Bass Pro Shops gift card is good, but not a serious threat to the population of invasives. Nothing will eliminate them. Putting any dent in the population is helpful, and fun. Seriously, the fish market thing may be a viable business opportunity.

[ldsudduth]

It's a problem no doubt. The question is "what can be done about it?" If the answer truly is "nothing", well we might as well catch them, eat them, enjoy them. The danger there is that people may do more "bucket biologist" type stuff and transport them if we do too good a job of promoting snakehead fishing. Transport of live snakehead or other species is the clearly illegal act that both states have in place. Killing them on the spot isn't frequently done. I watched a bass boater catch one and stick it in the livewell, saying to his buddy, "I deal with that later". Well, I hope he wasn't stopped by DNR. I get it. Tournament situation, time is money, don't want the blood and slime all over the carpet of your glitter rocket. If there were a market at the boat ramps bass boaters used and they could get a few bucks for fresh snakehead, then you might have something that would put a more serious dent in the population. Recoup some of your gas $. Right now, the allure of possibly winning the $200 Bass Pro Shops gift card is good, but not a serious threat to the population of invasives. Nothing will eliminate them. Putting any dent in the population is helpful, and fun. Seriously, the fish market thing may be a viable business opportunity.

Agreed Jeff; everyone I've spoken too who has had that fish for dinner raves about how good it is. .

[ldsudduth]

Seeing all the pictures and video of people catching these fish around DC has really got me interested in heading down there. Never felt like it before but the idea of catching one of these guys has me intrigued. Also has me questioning if they are truly that bad for the area, and thinking of other invasive species that have found homes in other bodies of water in the US.
Coming from little to no research on the issue, just my general thoughts...

Flatheads in Susquehanna-invasive but the state has given up trying to get them out of here, stopped with the insta kill command. Now the river has another big fish to aim for.

Gobies in the Great Lakes- everything I've read just keeps talking about how these little fish has allowed the walleye and smallmouths to just keep getting bigger and healthier.

Brown Trout- Not sure of this but I thought I saw something about them being brought over here from Europe.

And I'm very interested to see just how many areas have largemouth, smallmouth, walleyes, pike, etc that weren't there naturally. Heck just think of how many states now have "Florida" strain largemouth.

Obviously the Carp in the Mississippi is a bad thing, and white perch being dumped into local lakes have effected the fishing on them around me. And maybe long term this is how the Snakeheads are. But I'm thinking having another bigtime game fish to aim for isn't a bad thing. I could be totally wrong, it wouldn't surprise me.

Any thoughts? It's a weird issue that I'm conflicted on. I do want to catch one though, I'm not conflicted on that at all.

The interesting thing about the Asian Carp is that it could be a viable commercial fishery---they have as much Omega 3 (well..almost) as Salmon; and could also be ground up as 'fish' for animal food or other commercial uses. Just like the Menhaden in the Atlantic have been used; someone just has to take the proverbial bull by the horns and start harvesting them commercially.

[HandyAl]

I see a new website KSF - Kayak Snakehead Fishing

[CrX970]

Seeing all the pictures and video of people catching these fish around DC has really got me interested in heading down there. Never felt like it before but the idea of catching one of these guys has me intrigued. Also has me questioning if they are truly that bad for the area, and thinking of other invasive species that have found homes in other bodies of water in the US.
Coming from little to no research on the issue, just my general thoughts...

Flatheads in Susquehanna-invasive but the state has given up trying to get them out of here, stopped with the insta kill command. Now the river has another big fish to aim for.

Gobies in the Great Lakes- everything I've read just keeps talking about how these little fish has allowed the walleye and smallmouths to just keep getting bigger and healthier.

Brown Trout- Not sure of this but I thought I saw something about them being brought over here from Europe.

And I'm very interested to see just how many areas have largemouth, smallmouth, walleyes, pike, etc that weren't there naturally. Heck just think of how many states now have "Florida" strain largemouth.

Obviously the Carp in the Mississippi is a bad thing, and white perch being dumped into local lakes have effected the fishing on them around me. And maybe long term this is how the Snakeheads are. But I'm thinking having another bigtime game fish to aim for isn't a bad thing. I could be totally wrong, it wouldn't surprise me.

Any thoughts? It's a weird issue that I'm conflicted on. I do want to catch one though, I'm not conflicted on that at all.

The interesting thing about the Asian Carp is that it could be a viable commercial fishery---they have as much Omega 3 (well..almost) as Salmon; and could also be ground up as 'fish' for animal food or other commercial uses. Just like the Menhaden in the Atlantic have been used; someone just has to take the proverbial bull by the horns and start harvesting them commercially.

I saw a show about this and it seems that why very few people do harvest Asian Carp commercially (in America) is because they are viewed as an unclean or nasty fish. It would be hard to fix that image in my opinion.

As for having a market next to or near lakes to buy the snakeheads, that seems like a really viable option and would definitely promote harvesting them for food.

Otherwise, I'm very glad we don't have Asian carp or snakeheads here...yet.

This does remind me of a quote from Jurrassic park however, "Life will find a way."

[ldsudduth]

I saw a show about this and it seems that why very few people do harvest Asian Carp commercially (in America) is because they are viewed as an unclean or nasty fish. It would be hard to fix that image in my opinion.

As for having a market next to or near lakes to buy the snakeheads, that seems like a really viable option and would definitely promote harvesting them for food.

Otherwise, I'm very glad we don't have Asian carp or snakeheads here...yet.

This does remind me of a quote from Jurrassic park however, "Life will find a way."

How many people know the source of the Omega3 in their vitamins?? or the fish meal in animal foods? I'll wager not many...it's a plankton feeder....it's not an 'unclean' fish..

for that matter--how many know what's in Hot Dogs; and still eat them...LOL..

[CrX970]

Right. I don't see them as an unclean fish by any means but its hard to change the minds of millions upon millions of uneducated people.