Snakehead Fish

[Art 53]

Hey boys I saw a piece today on Snakeheads on ESPN. They're haveing a problem in Maryland with them So a baitshop set up a bounty with gift certificates 12" $10 16" $50 over 24" $100   To bad they don't get ice we could make some dough

[TJC]

THAT'S COOL FISHING FOR GIFT CERTS AND GETTING RID OF THE TRASH AT THE SAME TIME. THESE FISH ARE NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS THEY EAT EVERYTHING AND GROW HUGE.

[icy mike]

What's a snakehead and why the bounty?

[TJC]

SNAKEHEADS ARE FISH NATIVE TO ASIA. YOU USE TO BE ABLE TO BUY THEM IN PET STORES AND THEY WERE ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG. THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS, THEY WILL EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. THEY REPRODUCE VERY EASILY AND WILL EAT EVERYTHING IN A LAKE IF LEFT TO TAKE IT OVER. THEY CAN LIVE IN OUR CLIMATE AND GROW VERY RAPIDLY. ALSO THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO WALK ON LAND FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IF YOU CATCH ONE ANYWHERE TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND TURN IT OVER TO THEM INTACT. THESE FISH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO OUR ECO SYSTEMS IN THE USA.

[Charman03]

The snakeheads in MD is fairly old news now.  Fisheries management has now found them in PA waters last year in the eastern part of the state