Freshwater

Bullseye snakehead

Cabeza de serpiente

Channa marulius

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–6 lb.

Depth

1–8 ft.

Best time

Daylight — these fish feed by sight.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Long, snake-like head and body, a long dorsal fin, and an orange-ringed black eye-spot near the tail.
Typical size: 2–6 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft.
Diet: Small fish, insects, snails and shrimp.
Behavior: Lives along canal banks, rocks and vegetation in warm water; very aggressive toward small lures.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from South Florida & Keys and Florida Atlantic Coast. Canals of Broward and Palm Beach counties in South Florida.
Habitat: Canals of Broward and Palm Beach counties in South Florida.
Depth: 1–8 ft.
Fishing depth: 1–8 ft along banks and structure.
Best season: All year in South Florida canals; best in warm months.
Best time: Daylight — these fish feed by sight.
Best tides: Not tidal; flowing canals after rain are good.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, sunny days. They get sluggish in cold snaps.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Canals of Broward and Palm Beach counties in South Florida.
Rig up: Light to medium spinning rod, 6–7 ft. 15–20 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live shiners. Lures: Topwater frogs, swimbaits and spinnerbaits.
Fish it: Cast frogs and swimbaits around weed edges; they explode on topwater.
Time it: Daylight — these fish feed by sight. Not tidal; flowing canals after rain are good.

Fishing techniques: Cast frogs and swimbaits around weed edges; they explode on topwater.
BigJoe's tip: Snakeheads guard their fry in bright orange "fry balls" — the parents are always nearby.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Big teeth — use a lip gripper and pliers.
Regulations: INVASIVE: Florida prohibits possessing live snakeheads. If you catch one, kill it (and you're encouraged to eat it). Never move it to another water. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits