Snakeheads

[Billfish715]

After reading the post “canew” and seeing the snakehead pictures, I found this informative article. One of the “takes” from the article was to “ take ‘em and kill ‘em. Evidently, there is no eradicating them, no matter what. They are just too established and widespread. They are voracious and I can see why fishermen should be concerned about the potential damage they can and have done to resident bass fry, small bass and panfish.

https://www.onthewater.com/new-jersey-snakeheads

[thmyorke1]

I think whereever you can catch them consistently right now, they are too established and I dont really see an impact to the bass population. We caught some tiny dink bass that day too.

That was the first ever time i drove down to south NJ for any freshwater fishing. So I dont actually know if the bass fishing was considerably better before snakeheads were established in the waters I was fishing. But to go along with that, I bet other people can relate and they werent even thinking fishing those waters until it got snakes.

From what I understand they wont move north more, as if they depend on south jersey's slightly warmer climate? Id figure the DnR canal would be full of them by now.

I can understand any concerns about them moving up north, but as for where they are right now in south NJ, I dont understand the risk.

[bulletbob]

Yes Snakeheads will eat baby bass, perch, pickerel, and anything else they can grab.. Just remember, bass, perch,pickerel, catfish, crappies, will eat baby snakeheads too!... We don't have them to any extent yet here in NY state, but if we did, I would take them home and eat them... Everything I have read about them says they are a superior food fish.. Mild, firm, with no strong fishy taste at all.. They are better from clear clean water, but that goes for any fish you might want to eat... They get big, are strong fighters, and great to eat,,, Sounds like a good deal to me... bob

[Chrisper4694]

We caught more bass than snakeheads while targeting snakeheads. They do not decimate the bass. This was in water where They are fully established already and nature has found balance as it always does. A CO checked our licenses and couldn’t care less that we released them… they accept the reality that they only make for an awesome fishery. The concern they once had is irrelevant now.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

We caught more bass than snakeheads while targeting snakeheads. They do not decimate the bass. This was in water where They are fully established already and nature has found balance as it always does. A CO checked our licenses and couldn’t care less that we released them… they accept the reality that they only make for an awesome fishery. The concern they once had is irrelevant now.

I caught 2 American Shad on the Raritan river this past spring back to back ! Therefore it is safe to assume the American Shad population is back to pre Civil War numbers.

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I caught 2 American Shad on the Raritan river this past spring back to back ! Therefore it is safe to assume the American Shad population is back to pre Civil War numbers.

No, but it’s safe to say they aren’t extinct there, just as it’s safe to say the snakes didnt decimate the bass