What is the deal with snakeheads?

[Rich196]

First off, I had NO idea we had so many of those ugly bastards....LOL Now from what I see on this board, they are good eating? Also, if you catch them fishing, they wanted you to kill them, does that still hold true?
I also hear they can live on land for a while?

Never caught one, or saw one, but geeze, they are ugly!!

[ALS Mako]

They are an invasive species. In nj basically kill on site and report to fish and game. From what I understand they are very good eating.

[yumasdad]

Take them to a CHINESE take outplace & trade for food. Do that with pickerel too, they are nuts for them as well.

[Delawareriver]

Originally Posted by Rich196

First off, I had NO idea we had so many of those ugly bastards....LOL Now from what I see on this board, they are good eating? Also, if you catch them fishing, they wanted you to kill them, does that still hold true?
I also hear they can live on land for a while?

Never caught one, or saw one, but geeze, they are ugly!!

They have been around for 10+ years in the tidal section of the delaware but the last 3-4 years it seems the population has exploded on all of the tributaries along the tidal section with a few confirmed reports north of the tidal line as far north as Warren county.

Yes they are invasive and yes they are delicious. By law you do not have to kill them but it is encouraged. It is illegal to transport them alive and federal law prohibits transporting state to state. No I don't think they will cripple the ecosystem down there as mother nature has it ways to balance out over a long time but we should strive to slow the spread. You won't hear any complaints from me as they are fun to fish for and fun to shoot and very good light flaky mild tasting fish. I prefer them over any other freshwater species including walleye and perch.

Almost forgot, yes they can breath air so they can survive on land longer than most fish and even can wiggle with the pectoral fins but no they won't decide to crawl out of a body of water to go searching for a new water body.

Be happy to answer any other questions you have

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by Delawareriver

... By law you do not have to kill them but it is encouraged. It is illegal to transport them alive and federal law prohibits transporting state to state.

From the F&G Regs... "Potentially Dangerous Fish
The possession or release of live, potentially dangerous
fish is prohibited. These species include Asian
swamp eel, bighead, grass (diploid) and silver carp,
brook stickleback, green sunfish, flathead catfish,
oriental weatherfish, *snakehead* and warmouth.

Anglers MUST destroy these species if encountered
while fishing and are directed to submit
specimen(s) or photos to a Fish and Wildlife
Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries biologist for verification.
To reach a biologist, call (908) 236-2118
for north Jersey or (609) 259-6964 for south Jersey."

The capitalized 'MUST' is direct from the regs. You can find this paragraph in the center of page 17.

[jmurr711]

I know ive tried to catch them multie times and they swim away from my lures & live bait...