Went out to the Rappahonock river here in Virginia to do some bass fishing.  We had a really good day a couple of weeks ago.  I’ve commented on my troubles with a chatterbait and how tough it is for me to catch anything on that bait.  Well, yesterday cured that.  I was the Northern Snakehead king for a day.  It’s not unusual to pick up a couple when we go out but I boated 10-15 and got a few green fish as well.  It was a good day and the bite totally hinged on the tide.  Caught the snakeheads on chatterbaits, crankbaits, Ned and topwater.  They were engulfing baits and jumping like tarpon! These are all different fish! 

Awesome fish for sure. The snakehead is on my bucket list if and when I fish the Potomac with some cousins I have down there. How do the biologists of decades past cope with how well established these monsters have become? They are rolling in their graves, and the ones still alive, their hair has turned white. 

2 hours ago, MassBass said:

Awesome fish for sure. The snakehead is on my bucket list if and when I fish the Potomac with some cousins I have down there. How do the biologists of decades past cope with how well established these monsters have become? They are rolling in their graves, and the ones still alive, their hair has turned white. 

Follow up studies by DNR have dispelled the myth that they would decimate other species.  Yes, they are invasive but so are the Blue Catfish and they have caused much more damage to the environment 

 

I'd love to catch a big snakehead, seems like they'd be a blast to catch. 

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'd love to catch a big snakehead, seems like they'd be a blast to catch. 

They do fight exceptionally hard but the drawback is that once you net them and get them in the boat to get your bait back, they actually produce slime and a lot of it.  More than any catfish or carp I have ever seen.  Not long after boating the slime will be running off them in waves. ?

If they are anything like a bowfin, you better bring a sack lunch and a ball bat to the party once they are on board 

54 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

They do fight exceptionally hard but the drawback is that once you net them and get them in the boat to get your bait back, they actually produce slime and a lot of it.  More than any catfish or carp I have ever seen.  Not long after boating the slime will be running off them in waves. ?

Sounds like getting a big gar in the boat. Fun to fight but I always regret hooking them when they don't come off mid-fight and I actually have to unhook them. 

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sounds like getting a big gar in the boat. Fun to fight but I always regret hooking them when they don't come off mid-fight and I actually have to unhook them. 

Exactly.  They have a mouthful of razor sharp teeth and also have teeth back by their gills so grabbing them is very risky due to the slime.  Boca Grips are the best way but they are like catfish and won’t open their mouths.  Once you do lock on to a jaw with the Boca’s they go ape chit.  The big ones have broken nets and smashed rods.  

I don't bring them into the kayak.  I use grips and jaw spreaders and pliers alongside the yak.  @TnRiver46, they are a lot like bowling.  Biggest difference to me is that when I get a bowfin bite, I have mistaken it for a bass.  Snakeheads always seem to hit like a truck...no matter if it's a frog or chatterbait or a worm....they grab and GO