Opinions on Snake Heads

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by Wilson

So what's does are alustrous and fearless leader think?
And on a side note I'm surprised Jmurr has not posted a picture of himself eating a live snakehead.

...in a pink bikini

[Mark B.]

"Embrace The Invasives".

You are not going to stop them. They are here to stay.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

"Embrace The Invasives".

You are not going to stop them. They are here to stay.

So why do they have a kill law?
I could understand a kill if transported law.
Proving thier worth?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

...in a pink bikini

Not informed enough on this to have an opinion so just stirring the pot

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Not informed enough on this to have an opinion so just stirring the pot

Mo money!

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by Wilson

Mo money!

There'd be much more money to be made for the state embracing them as a recreational game fish (i'd imagine more licenses sold in south jersey, with their limited species options, they're exciting to catch and could get many more people hooked on fishing imo). Have tournaments with donations to NJFW or whatever. Add them to the skillful angler list turn it into a friendly competition, etc.

They're not making any money on tickets for people releasing them...They'd have to be standing there watching them do it from start to finish, close enough to clearly identify it from a bowfin. In fact, i'd bet money that there has not been a single ticket given for releasing a snakehead caught in NJ...

And just for the record, my total opinion... more regulations are almost NEVER the answer to any fishing problem in NJ! Mostly because they are so short handed they can't enforce them enough! What would be a better option imo is education: things like, stressing releasing bigger game fish from panfish to stripers and everything in between, teaching people how to safely catch, photo, and release a fish (especially in summer) etc, you could go on and on.

bottom line, the only fact is they are not going to be eradicated by anglers killing what they catch and there is no other feasible way to get rid of them; they are here to stay. Telling people to kill them is white noise at this point no matter what your opinion is on the topic.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

There'd be much more money to be made for the state embracing them as a recreational game fish (i'd imagine more licenses sold in south jersey, with their limited species options, they're exciting to catch and could get many more people hooked on fishing imo). Have tournaments with donations to NJFW or whatever. Add them to the skillful angler list turn it into a friendly competition, etc.

They're not making any money on tickets for people releasing them...They'd have to be standing there watching them do it from start to finish, close enough to clearly identify it from a bowfin. In fact, i'd bet money that there has not been a single ticket given for releasing a snakehead caught in NJ...

And just for the record, my total opinion... more regulations are almost NEVER the answer to any fishing problem in NJ! Mostly because they are so short handed they can't enforce them enough! What would be a better option imo is education: things like, stressing releasing bigger game fish from panfish to stripers and everything in between, teaching people how to safely catch, photo, and release a fish (especially in summer) etc, you could go on and on.

bottom line, the only fact is they are not going to be eradicated by anglers killing what they catch and there is no other feasible way to get rid of them; they are here to stay. Telling people to kill them is white noise at this point no matter what your opinion is on the topic.

I meant for Gerry...more hits.

But your point is a valid one.

[bassnblues]

Never caught or fished for a snakehead and probably never will...putting the morality aside, I just watched a video about fishing for them in Virginia and the guy said the law is that if relleaeased, it must be done immediately and in the same water as caught and if kept and transported, be killed. Looks like Nj is just behind the times on snakeheads.

[bulletbob]

Some laws are stupid, and blindly following what BIG BROTHER decrees just because they can is ridiculous..
If you don't want to eat the fish [ I would certainly try them], and they are already there, why make a stupid law that you MUST kill them?.. how utterly moronic.. Personally I might kill them myself, but who the hell is the government in telling me i am breaking the law if I want to release it.?.. Who makes these idiot "laws" anyway?..

here in NY the Great,Finger Lakes, St lawrence river, oneida lake, and others,.. are all infested with millions and millions of Round gobies.. they are way more destructive than the snakehead can ever be.. The DEC wants them killed.. Fine.. However, If you catch one in any lake or river where they already exist by the tens of millions, and DARE put it on hook as bait, right where you caught it, you are breaking the law, and fined heavily.. So no, as far as I am concerned ,stupid laws , are just that.. stupid,, and I feel no compelling reason I must blindly follow them because some suit that probably has never even fished says I must... bob