Bionic

Most snakehead reports are knee jerk. I have caught three different species in three different countries. The two we have here, the Northern Snakehead (Channa Argus ) and the Cobra or Bullseye Snakehead ( Channa marulius ) are lesser aggressive ones. The media and too an extent "The sky is falling" bass fisherman all run around with the "they are eating all the bass" cry, don't really look at actual findings. Down here we have had snakeheads before the media circus broke out and nobody may a peep. The people down here took the time to find out what kind of impact they made. To a suprise they have had little impact on bass. They have even drop the request to kill them. They are here and that's that. I will say they are a better sport fish and tasting fish than bass. Good luck and remember the Media LOVES!!! too sensationalize. Scott

Pretty much any of the canals south of Delray beach. Did well on Lake Ida this weekend. They went from 1 to 4lbs and most were sight casting. They also have a few other exotics down here that are great fighters, especially on lighter gear. If you want big ones head to South America. My biggest (23lbs) came from Venezuela, but thanks to Hugo non Venezuelains are not allowed into that area any more. Too bad it was a great big fish are. Colombia will be the next up and coming big fish spot and right now it might be the best deal (price). I know a gentleman who fished there years ago (10-15yrs) and he has some pictures of quite a few 20lb+ size fish. He believes there are 30lbers in some spots that haven't seen fisherman in a long time. Scott

Mayan's reach about 2.5-3lbs. They are great fighting fish and for their size will surprise you. Scott

Even if you don't have a boat you can hit the bridges on Tamiami Trail. You can catch snook and small Tarpon on a variety of rapalas. #7 shadraps are my favorite. X-raps in ghoast, olive and hot head will also be a good choice. Beware of the big snook as you will lose quite a few lures if your not careful. Tarpon not so much as they have a tendency to go out away from the bridge and start jumping. Snook will range from 1lb to 20lb. The tarpon can run from 1lb to 50-60lbs. The biggest I manage to land was about 20lb, still not bad on bass tackle. As for the peacocks you have to go over to the other side of the ally. Scott

I belong to PETA People Eating Tasty Animals

I have seen just about every species eat one of their own. Must predators will eat any fish that is small enough to fit in their mouth. I have seen pike try and eat other pike that were too big and choked to death on them. It all goes back to beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you like the non native it's alright and if you don't they all should be kill. Peacock bass - yeaaaa Snakehead - booooo One was hyped as good ( peacocks ) and one was hyped as bad ( snakeheads ) both are non native and both compete with largemouth bass, so why give one the thumbs up and the other the thumbs down? Both are better fighters and the snakehead is better to eat than the LM bass, so is it really about native species or which had better marketing? To me if you ban one you have to ban them all and that's not going to happen, so just go out, fish and be happy that you caught something. Scott P.S. Life is too short to worry about this issue.

I would be willing to bet you are all excited when the bowfin hits and is pulling hard and only get upset when you see it's a bowfin. It amazes me. To me I enjoy any fish that I catch, there is no garbage fish. I also think it's funny when I see people whoot and holler when they hook a fish thinking man I got a big one for it to turn out to be a "trash" fish. Most "trash" fish are better fighters than the "game" fish that their fishing for. Also for the question of who would want to catch a snakehead over a bass, pick me. Next time you're out fishing do it with an open mind and just enjoy the fight. Don't hate just appreciate.

It's funny how it is the exact opposite here. It's all in the eye of the beholder. I am like you I enjoy fishing, no matter what it is, and I can't see killing fish for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The government should instead of garbage cans offer a place to donate the fish to feed people. It's funny how we are told to waste one resource and yelled at for wasting another : Scott

I caught that one in April down in Venezuela. Fish was 35.5" long, 22.5" girth. I took the measurement for a mount but don't know where I would put it Great water for big fish. The new 20lb line class record was caught on that trip. It was 26lbs. Beat the old record by 2lbs. I do most of my trips with Fish Quest. Never have had a problem they are very through. http://www.fishquest.com/ The only ones I don't do with them are the ones where I know the location personelly. I like to fish for all types of species. I will be going to Suriname next year to fish for Wolf fish and big catfish. Scott

Your are correct. The Snakeheads here are also restricted to the south as they can not survive cold water, where as the ones you have can. I would just prefer to see them on a diner plate then a garbage can. Maybe donate them to food kitchens. Like I see make something positive out of it. Scott P.S. Evolution and change are inevitable I am on the side of, if life hands you lemons you just make lemonade

New 2 Bass there is a good book "South Florida's Peacock Bass" by Carlos Hidalgo if you can find it. It will give all kinds of information on which canals are better and which have boat access. You really need to try topwater, it is a blast. Tiny torpedos and chug bugs worked fast have been productive for me. I also like to use #7 Rapala Shallow Shadraps and #10 Xraps in bright colors. Scott P.S. I also have caught canal Tarpon on them.

I think I am inclined to respectfully disagree with you here. Here is a link discussing the features of each snakehead species and the possible ecological impact they could have. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/snakehead/overview.php I am not aware of how the aquatic food chain works in Maryland, so I am not aware of what the greatest aquatic predator in Maryland may be. I do know in Florida snakeheads would not be at the top of the aquatic foodchain. That belongs to the gators down there which can help control a snakehead population down there. There are also a huge variety of birds that feed heavily on fish in florida that could aslo help control a snakehead population. In Maryland their are no such predators that can effectively prey upon snakehead which will lead to the displacement of native fish species as well as increased competition for prey for native fish species. Snakeheads reproduce quickly laying as many as 100,000 eggs at a time. I am sure snakehead fry could fall prey to native predatory fish such as bass and the pike family of fish. The fact is that the ecosystem as it is today is self sustaining with the correct balance of predatory and prey fish. Add another large predatory fish with few natural enemies, can reproduce quickly, and puts a extra strain upon the prey base that spells disaster for a sustained ecosystem.

Snakeheads have been misreported by the media and misunderstood by just about everyone. They have been down here in Florida for years and nobody seemed to notice. They aren't the killing machines that the media has made them out to be. I have fished for them here, Thailand and Malaysia. They are one of my favorite sport fish. There are also a lot of different species. One of which was introduced in Hawaii on purpose. They are a much better game fish then bass and are very good to eat. The species that you have up there, Channa Argus, know as the Northern Snakehead are somewhat shy and not as aggressive. The Bulls-eye Snakehead we have down here falls into the same category, where as the Giant Snakehead, known here as the Red Snakehead is much more aggressive and would be the most potentially destructive species. I think instead of just killing them you might want to take them home and enjoy a good tasting fish dinner. Don't fear just enjoy another strong fight fish. Scott P.S. There were Snakehead farms here in the US before the wide spread panic, just no one cared until it was the popular thing to do.

In Central America I believe you can only find them in the southern most countries. They also don't run as big. The do have other ciclids though.Rainbow Bass are a top one for Costa Rica and Nicaragua.You can use your bass tackle for them, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater. Most ciclids are aggressive and strong fighters. Peacocks do get the most credit and are definately one of the prettiest. Topwater is the most fun but Rapalas are killer as well. I did really well with the new X-rap's in 14. Bright colors do well. If you get a chance South America is the place to go. Brazil is the most popular. My biggest was caught in Venezuela, 23lbs. Good luck either way. Scott

Most of the canals in the Ft. Lauderdale and south have peacocks. They are of the butterfly species. I believe the biggest documented by Paul Shafland was around 12lbs. The world Record is of the same size. My biggest down there is about 4lbs. Scott

Any fish in the Amazom is going to suprise you. There are so many fish that it's hard to pick a favorite. I have to say my favorite one is the one at the end of my line Here is a picture of a Payara caught in Venezuela and yes they do have some awesome teeth.

They are strong fighters. I was in Thailand in October and landed a few. The biggest was at 52lbs. They were two other gentlemen from England that landed two that were big. 88lbs and 90lbs. If you get on them you will be left tried and sore at the end of the day. Good feeling P.S. The gentlemen that Cindy Garrison fished with is a friend of mine and probably one of the best in Southeast Asia.

That is a species of Tilipia, and yes they do hit lures sometimes. I have caught a few using beetle spins. Oscar's are in the same family. Scott