SNAKEHEAD FISHING ADVENTURE IN THE SWAMPS OF JERSEY - Had the Go PRO

[KenBeam]

Hiya guys & gals.....

Figured you all might enjoy watchin`(& listenin` to me swear! HaHa!) as I go after SnakeHeads on foot.
There`s a Go PRO Video on the page too..... so crank up those speakers!

**Click the pic below to read all about the day`s Adventure;

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/kenbeam1/Ken-Beam-SnakeHeadFishing.jpg (http://adventureswithken.com/snakehead-fishing-adventure-swamps-jersey/)


Hope you`re all doin` well........

[thmyorke1]

More toothy critters! Nice fishing adventure. Those lilly pads would have had be defeated.

[Eskimo]

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Great blog post. That's a brutal looking swamp.

I've never caught a Northern Snakehead, but I already like them. Certainly no shortage of sunnies for them to eat.

.

[AndyS]

Nice Snakehead. I hope you took it home for dinner.

[HerringKing]

Still waiting on that invite

[Moz]

Nice Snakehead. I hope you took it home for dinner.


By law aren't you supposed to cull them for being invasive? I don't think I'd want to pee within 20 feet of that swamp let alone eat something out of it!

Maybe feed it to a cat. That you don't like.

[tycomps]

anyone know of up to date info on the actual impact of snakeheads (Mark B)? everything I've read so far addresses the "potential impact on native fish populations through predation, food and habitat competition, or the
introduction of diseases and parasites" but I've yet to see statistics. being fairly well established in several areas including newton lake I would think there would be more detailed info available regarding the actual affect they've had (the last report on NJFG is 7 years old).

[FASTEDDIE29]

Phenom write up and report Ken! Life is way to short! Take as many adventures as possible! Good looking fish as always!!! TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D

[KenBeam]

Phenom write up and report Ken! Life is way to short! Take as many adventures as possible! Good looking fish as always!!! TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D

Thanks Eddie........ Really appreciate that.

[KenBeam]

Let me tell you all something....... You can read all the facts/bullshit about these fish on Google....... but I`ll tell all this....... I have personally caught huge Largemouth Bass standing in the exact same spot that I just landed a Snake in minutes before........ Also I have witnessed Bass dining on Snakehead fry-balls....... chowin` down on the infant Snakes. So contrary to what you read, they are an actual food source as well. And..... you can kill buckets of Snakes....... won`t matter. They are eveywhere....... And this fish spawns a few times a year laying upwards to 15,000 eggs at one time. Like I said,..... Kill as many as you want(personally I find them delicious filleted) ..... you won`t ever put the slightest dent in the population. And personally, I believe you will see the fighting fish become acknowledge as a game fish one day in New Jersey....... just a matter of time. The Bowfin is another amazing fish to catch......... And if you`ve never fished/caught either....... You don`t know what you`re missing.

[tycomps]

Let me tell you all something....... You can read all the facts/bullshit about these fish on Google....... but I`ll tell all this....... I have personally caught huge Largemouth Bass standing in the exact same spot that I just landed a Snake in minutes before........ Also I have witnessed Bass dining on Snakehead fry-balls....... chowin` down on the infant Snakes. So contrary to what you read, they are an actual food source as well. And..... you can kill buckets of Snakes....... won`t matter. They are eveywhere....... And this fish spawns a few times a year laying upwards to 15,000 eggs at one time. Like I said,..... Kill as many as you want(personally I find them delicious filleted) ..... you won`t ever put the slightest dent in the population. And personally, I believe you will see the fighting fish become acknowledge as a game fish one day in New Jersey....... just a matter of time. The Bowfin is another amazing fish to catch......... And if you`ve never fished/caught either....... You don`t know what you`re missing.

I think you're right!

[thmyorke1]

As much as I respect snakehead as a gamefish, it's no evil to follow the law and rid them out. If a state like NJ is demanding you to kill something, you know something aint right.

It would be best if their populations stayed where they are.

"you won`t ever put the slightest dent in the population"

I agree with them in large bodies of water, but say that to smaller/local bodies of water however. I reckon that they can ruin a pond, but also the local anglers could easily rid snakeheads' presence.

[tycomps]

As much as I respect snakehead as a gamefish, it's no evil to follow the law and rid them out. If a state like NJ is demanding you to kill something, you know something aint right.

It would be best if their populations stayed where they are.

"you won`t ever put the slightest dent in the population"

I agree with them in large bodies of water, but say that to smaller/local bodies of water however. I reckon that they can ruin a pond, but also the local anglers could easily rid snakeheads' presence.

all valid concerns and more reasons why I'd like to find CURRENT info on their spread and impact. seems like most resources went into the initial hype rather than monitoring. (flatheads?)

ps- on a lighter note those points apply to the bucket brigade as well! :p

[Setthehook]

Ken,

Where can one find these snakeheads? (Rich R VW)

[AndyS]

Ken, I give credit to the biologists, they tend not to think of today or next week when it comes to invasive species such as Snakeheads, but think about 5, 10, 15 or 20 years from now. If they say do not release them, don't release them.

[tycomps]

Ken, I give credit to the biologists. Then tend not to think of today or next week when it comes to invasive species such as Snakeheads, they tend to think about 5, 10, 15 or 20 years from now. If they say do not release them, don't release them.


video doesn't show them being released.

[icebadger]

wow ken you had yourself in a mess there,those weeds are brutal. thank god you have a tough rod to "HAUL" those fish in:eek:i think you were smart for not going in after that snakehead you might have gone right up to your thigh in black muck with crocs on,not good. great vid as usual ken thanks for sharing your adventure with us:cool:

[Eskimo]

.


A while back I was fishing in a part of Florida where a different species of Snakehead had become established - along with a lot of other invasives. The locals claimed the Snakeheads had no impact on the bass fishing.

This is just anecdotal and South Florida is not New Jersey, but it seems the presence of Snakeheads wasn't catastrophic to the ecosystem.

,

[KenBeam]

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A while back I was fishing in a part of Florida where a different species of Snakehead had become established - along with a lot of other invasives. The locals claimed the Snakeheads had no impact on the bass fishing.

This is just anecdotal and South Florida is not New Jersey, but it seems the presence of Snakeheads wasn't catastrophic to the ecosystem.

,


Exactly right Jeff............. They are going no where as I said earlier. The State will embrace the idea of the Snakehead as a gamefish....... eventually.

Kill as many you want........ You`ll never get ahead nor maintain/control the population. They are everywhere and are going to continue to show up in more & more waterways as the years progress.

[Mark B.]

NJDF&W errs on the side of caution with “potentially dangerous fish species”.
Keyword: “potentially”.

The below from: 2016 -2017 FISH CODE http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2016/fishcode16-17.pdf


7:25-6.1 General provisions

(g) The possession and/or release of live potentially dangerous fish species, identified in N.J.A.C. 7:25-6.2, is strictly prohibited. Potentially dangerous fish species encountered while angling shall be destroyed. There are no season, minimum size or creel limits on these species.




7:25-6.2 Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.


"Potentially dangerous fish" means the following species:
1. Asian Swamp Eel Monopterus albus
2. Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
3. Brook Stickleback Culaea inconstans
4. Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris
5. Grass Carp (diploid) Ctenopharyngodon idella
6. Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
7. Snakeheads Channa spp.
8. Oriental Weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
9. Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
10. Warmouth Lepomis gulosus

[Heronimo42]

Exactly right Jeff............. They are going no where as I said earlier. The State will embrace the idea of the Snakehead as a gamefish....... eventually.

Kill as many you want........ You`ll never get ahead nor maintain/control the population. They are everywhere and are going to continue to show up in more & more waterways as the years progress.

That's a very nihilistic attitude. By following the law, you may slow down this progression. By slowing down, you may be buying time to come up with a solution.

[KenBeam]

That's a very nihilistic attitude. By following the law, you may slow down this progression. By slowing down, you may be buying time to come up with a solution.

"By following the law, you may slow down this progression"

..................... Uhhhhhhhhhh........ Who said I didn`t follow the law Captain Keyboard Commando????? You are a rather presumptuous fella aren`t you?

"nihilistic attitude" eh??? ....... Nah.......... That`s a realistic attitude pal.

[Heronimo42]

Easy big guy, I'm not attacking you. And the "you" i reference wasn't aimed at you, my mistake for not making it more clear.

There's been discussion on this board in the past about killing/not killing snakeheads. I think following the law is the right thing to do until the law is changed or suspended.

[KenBeam]

Easy big guy, I'm not attacking you. And the "you" i reference wasn't aimed at you, my mistake for not making it more clear.

There's been discussion on this board in the past about killing/not killing snakeheads. I think following the law is the right thing to do until the law is changed or suspended.


Ohhhhhhhh....... my mistake them...... Thought you were rippin` me a new A-hole......... HaHa! All is good buddy-boy! HaHa!~

[Heronimo42]

Ohhhhhhhh....... my mistake them...... Thought you were rippin` me a new A-hole......... HaHa! All is good buddy-boy! HaHa!~

Not at all. I enjoy reading your posts, blogs and watching your videos. Keep up the good work!

[JDTuna]

Let me tell you all something....... You can read all the facts/bullshit about these fish on Google....... but I`ll tell all this....... I have personally caught huge Largemouth Bass standing in the exact same spot that I just landed a Snake in minutes before........ Also I have witnessed Bass dining on Snakehead fry-balls....... chowin` down on the infant Snakes. So contrary to what you read, they are an actual food source as well. And..... you can kill buckets of Snakes....... won`t matter. They are eveywhere....... And this fish spawns a few times a year laying upwards to 15,000 eggs at one time. Like I said,..... Kill as many as you want(personally I find them delicious filleted) ..... you won`t ever put the slightest dent in the population. And personally, I believe you will see the fighting fish become acknowledge as a game fish one day in New Jersey....... just a matter of time. The Bowfin is another amazing fish to catch......... And if you`ve never fished/caught either....... You don`t know what you`re missing.

Ken is absolutely right. I fished for bullseye snakeheads in Florida for years. Caught them and largemouth out of the same tiny ponds that were full of life...bass, baitfish, panfish, frogs, etc. In fact, I caught the two biggest largemouth of my life fishing for snakeheads. The hysteria surrounding the snakehead...e.g., they kill everything...is totally false, unfounded and a work of fiction. Snakeheads are essentially Asian bowfin. They two occupy the same ecological niche, and even look very similar through a process called convergent evolution (teo unrelated species that evolved similar charactetistics because they live in similar environments). The State of Florida researched snakeheads, and found they did not have a negative effect on native species. Largemouth bass also feed on smaller snakeheads.

As for killing them, it likely wont make a difference at all. It is an ineffective regulation. They are found throughout major river systems and associated tributaries. They are here to stay.

Btw, nice fish!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Well said!!!

Invasive species need love too!!!

Invasive
Lives
Matter!!!

LOL!!!:D

[Hookmanski]

well said!!!

invasive species need love too!!!

Invasive
lives
matter!!!

Lol!!!:d

lmao!!!

[Mark B.]

“Embrace The Invasives!!”

I have. Almost the entire perimeter of my property is a thick, impenetrable hedge of Multiflora Rose. Only occasional pruning of the long, arching canes is required.

[Skeg]

The Virginia biologist who is tasked with studying them and documenting any effect of their presence has stated they are not having any negative impact. This includes largemouth. I've known this for a while as many places I catch snakeheads the largemouth fishing has gotten better. The largemouth love snakehead fry conversely snakeheads are eating few largemouth. They primarily eat killies and bluegill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djvayxqjrfQ