Northern snakehead

Long, round, tan to brown fish with dark, irregular blotches like a python, a flat snake-like head, a long dorsal fin and long anal fin running along most of the body, and a big mouth full of teeth. Often confused with the native bowfin (bowfin has a short anal fin and a black eyespot on the tail).

3–8 lb.

About 3 ft and over 17 lb.

Fish, frogs, crayfish and anything it can catch.

An air breather that lives in shallow, weedy, slow water and can survive in warm, low-oxygen water; parents fiercely guard a ball of orange fry.

Found from Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Northeast Lakes & Rivers and Ozarks & Mid-South. Native to China, Korea and the Russian Far East; invasive in the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and found in parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

Native to China, Korea and the Russian Far East; invasive in the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and found in parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

1–10 ft.

1–5 ft in weeds, lily pads and creek mouths.

Late spring through summer.

Daytime, warm afternoons.

On the tidal Potomac, fish the falling tide out of the creeks.

Hot, sunny days.

Live minnows under a float where allowed.

Hollow-body frogs, chatterbaits, swim jigs and spinnerbaits over the weeds.

Heavy baitcasting rod.

4/0–5/0 frog or swimbait hooks.

50–65 lb braid.

Not needed with braid.

Work topwater frogs over matted weeds and pads in shallow creeks; snakehead blow up on them like bass.

If you see a swirling ball of orange fry, a big parent snakehead is right under it.

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.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Firm, white, mild meat — excellent fried, grilled or in fish tacos. Eating them helps control the invasion.

Sharp teeth and a strong, slimy body — use a lip grip or net and pliers.

An invasive species: it is illegal to possess or move a live snakehead in most states, and anglers are asked to kill and report every one they catch. Check local rules. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.

Invasive: competes with largemouth bass and other native fish. Never release one alive.