Just in case DEP is reading this, I'll note every snakehead i caught ive eaten
However, i dont understand their impact still. I guess no one does?
They seem to keep to South Jersey waters,
Despite all this time (Likely older than 2008), and some confirmed catches in the upper delaware, they dont seem to hold any substantial population upstream of the lower/tidal Delaware and those tribs.
You'd think by now, you'd see them establishing a population up north. Even at least the DnR canal. But there doesnt seem to be any confirmed degrading of fisheries up even in the DnR canal. Muskies, SMB, walleye, flatheads, etc have all filled into the DnR Canal via the delaware, yet snakeheads arent caught much nor do we see their impacts.
Im a bit lost with how snakeheads are impactful, in addition dont get much in response from F&W about what they have been monitoring.
Ive caught plenty of bass and sunfish out of the snakehead waters down south where they have had a longer history of a population. I know this isnt a good indicator of how they impact a fishery, but im not sure if F&W has posted any evidence of snakeheads having an impact otherwise.
If anything it has turned South Jersey into a unique fishery for me. If it wasnt for snakeheads, I would have no reason to travel down south.
I still dont understand their impact, dont understand what i'd be doing by killing a few of them amongst a huge population, and dont understand what F&W has in mind for them for the future.
There needs to be more clarity, and until then I dont understand the rule to kill them.
