Two invasive snakeheads caught recently in Delaware waterways

[easternshore]

DOVER (July 22, 2011) – Northern snakeheads have been caught in two Delaware waterways in recent months, the DNREC Fisheries Section said today. The snakehead is an invasive species that can impact fish, amphibians and invertebrate populations due to their predatory nature, competition for food resources and alteration of established food webs. According to research by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, northern snakeheads and largemouth bass have similar food and habitat patterns, and bass numbers increased as snakeheads were removed from shared waterways.

Last week, an angler caught a 24-inch fish in the Marshyhope Creek near the Route 404 bridge. Last fall, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries staff collected a 26-inch long snakehead during electrofishing efforts in Broad Creek just downstream of Laurel. Both fish were adults, weighing between four and six pounds. Both waterways are tributaries of the Nanticoke River, a very popular largemouth bass fishery in Delaware.

"We are concerned about possible adverse impacts to largemouth bass in this important watershed if snakeheads become established," said Fisheries Biologist Catherine Martin.

Northern snakeheads live in fresh and low salinity waters, generally preferring weedy locations. They are long slender fish with long anal fins reaching from mid-body to the tail. The pelvic fins on the belly and pectoral fins behind the gills are very close together. The dorsal fin on the back runs from the back of the head to the tail. The mouth is large and has sharp teeth. Coloration is generally tan with dark brown blotchy bands. Federal law prohibits import and transport of live snakeheads.

The Fisheries Section asks that any possible snakehead catches in Delaware waters be reported by calling 302-739-9914. Photos may be sent to . Snakeheads should not be released back into the water but should be killed or frozen. 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring a contest for anglers who send a photo of a dead snakehead with location of catch, date and angler's contact information. Each report will be entered into a raffle with prizes awarded at the end of 2011. Any snakehead taken in Maryland or Delaware waters tributary to the Chesapeake Bay is eligible for the contest. For more information, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/dnrnews/pressrelease2011/041511.asp.

[Creel Limit Zero]

Great...     It sounds like they are everywhere now around the Bay.  If they are in Marshy Hope and Broad Creek, might as well say they are in the Nanticoke and Wicomico as well.   

[LoonyToon]

  ~c~I have been fishing both of these aforementioned waterways extensive (although from the back seat  for the last 1 1/2 year) and  I am glad to report that in the last year there have been no other Snake-Heads found in the Marshy-Hope Creek area. The area in question was above (North) of Smithville Pond/Dam& Spikkway leading into the main creek itself. This in no way means there are not any other SnakeHeads in the before mentioned waterways(they just have not been caught)...
As for the BroadCreek area close to Laurel and all the way down to Phillips Landing I have heard of NO Other Fishheads being caught and I hope it stays that way............maybe with last years drought the brackish saltwater got them BIG STRIPPERS hungry and these pesky critters were eliminated

[coldfront]

not saying that we 'want' those things around...

but is there any scientific evidence (you know, not just 'stories' from 'folks' but from the scientists/biologists) that shows significant negative impact of these fish?

heck, even anecdotal evidence that bass fishing has suffered greatly from the presence of those fish?

Most of what I see is 'chicken little' stuff (the sky is falling!)


yes, it's not good.  no we do not want them.



but also bear in mind that this 'recent' article was published in July 2011...

[Creel Limit Zero]

coldfront, I do not believe there is any solid evidence one way or another.  What I can tell you, is the weights in most Potomac River trails over the past 5-6 years has dwindled, while the Upper Bay over that same time frame have continued to thrive.  They are pulling water from different parts of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, but for the most part they experience the same weather (rain/storms) since they are so close in proximity.  It's not a controlled environment though, because 2 years ago the Potomac did experience the LMB virus over the summer.  So there are other complications when comparing the two.  But 5-6 years ago, Spring tournaments on the Potomac took 25-30 to win, this past year you could win with 18 pounds.  Vice versa on the Upper Bay, you could win with 18 pounds in the Spring on the Upper Bay 5 yrs ago, now it takes 25+ to win. 

Again, not concrete evidence, but just a small sampling. 

[bass78]

not saying that we 'want' those things around...

but is there any scientific evidence (you know, not just 'stories' from 'folks' but from the scientists/biologists) that shows significant negative impact of these fish?

heck, even anecdotal evidence that bass fishing has suffered greatly from the presence of those fish?

Most of what I see is 'chicken little' stuff (the sky is falling!)


yes, it's not good.  no we do not want them.



but also bear in mind that this 'recent' article was published in July 2011...

I watch a show on TV last year about the snakeheads getting in canals  in Florida.  The will eat all fish, doesn't matter the species.  And they spawn twice a year according to the show.  Which makes their population double that of any other.   Big problem.

[coldfront]

I watch a show on TV last year about the snakeheads getting in canals  in Florida.  The will eat all fish, doesn't matter the species.  And they spawn twice a year according to the show.  Which makes their population double that of any other.   Big problem.

sounds like the same line of reasoning folks use to kill alligator gar, any gar species.

and pike/muskie up north.

lots of 'fear' that the 'good fish' will all get eaten by the bad fish.  It usually does not work that way.  folks who pull into a part of a lake and find 'nothing but gar' assume sometimes that the gar ate all the other fish...often, what it means is that water quality dropped so that oNLY gar were able to stick around...


By the way, when you look at some of the studies done in Asian countries where snakeheads are 'native'...there's an invasive specie that has been shown to prey  upon snakeheads.


that invasive specie is the largemouth bass.


My only points are these:
1.  Most of what we'd really like to know we don't yet know
2.  I've not seen so much 'hysteria' floated over invasive species ... and much of it comes from the biologist community...who, when lacking data/results sure as shootin' ought to know better.


No, we do NOT want snakeheads in our waters.  If for no other reason than it leads to more persecution of our native Bowfins.

[bass78]

sounds like the same line of reasoning folks use to kill alligator gar, any gar species.

and pike/muskie up north.

lots of 'fear' that the 'good fish' will all get eaten by the bad fish.  It usually does not work that way.  folks who pull into a part of a lake and find 'nothing but gar' assume sometimes that the gar ate all the other fish...often, what it means is that water quality dropped so that oNLY gar were able to stick around...


By the way, when you look at some of the studies done in Asian countries where snakeheads are 'native'...there's an invasive specie that has been shown to prey  upon snakeheads.


that invasive specie is the largemouth bass.


My only points are these:
1.  Most of what we'd really like to know we don't yet know
2.  I've not seen so much 'hysteria' floated over invasive species ... and much of it comes from the biologist community...who, when lacking data/results sure as shootin' ought to know better.


No, we do NOT want snakeheads in our waters.  If for no other reason than it leads to more persecution of our native Bowfins.

I'm not the expert...So I am just stating an opinion.  We don't have them here in Louisiana but we do have lots of Bowfin.  All that we can go by is what we are told about them.  Everything that I have heard so far has been bad. Example ( This species can disrupt and entire aquatic ecosystem.)  That has sold me right there. 

[coldfront]

I'm not the expert...So I am just stating an opinion.  We don't have them here in Louisiana but we do Everything that I have heard so far has been bad. Example ( This species can disrupt and entire aquatic ecosystem.)  That has sold me right there.

that' my point...everything out there is BAD, BAD, BAD... and YES we do not want them.

but the hysteria being fostered by folks who ought to be less emotionally based and more 'data-based' frustrates me.

Not that hysteria isn't an effective tool to motivate folks.  I just think we're all smart enough to do the right things for the right reasons...whithout what I see as being used.

[easternshore]

My only points are these:
1.  Most of what we'd really like to know we don't yet know
2.  I've not seen so much 'hysteria' floated over invasive species ... and much of it comes from the biologist community...who, when lacking data/results sure as shootin' ought to know better.


No, we do NOT want snakeheads in our waters.  If for no other reason than it leads to more persecution of our native Bowfins.

For all the preaching you're doing coldfront, you don't really appear to be saying much of anything?

Just what do you expect the states to do in regards to managing the population? Its an invasive species competing with an already over-pressured gamefish in our area. Of course it's a serious problem, hence the post. The DNR wants this information out there so the anglers know to catch these snakeheads and report them. The state is ACTIVELY collecting the data so they can make those determinations you so desperately need.

[coldfront]

For all the preaching you're doing coldfront, you don't really appear to be saying much of anything?

okay, good question.  Here is my answer:  folks have to be smart enough to not fly off the handle at conjecture and lunacy NOT supported by science/data.

FOR INSTANCE:  just read a great article in BassTimes about how BASS pulled folks together over the LMB Virus.  Did you know that some places were apparently getting serious about shutting down waters to stop the transmission/keep it out?  This group of biologists/scientists got together, talked about the info 'known'...and came up with plans that were targeted based on knowledge.

Knowledge.  if you think I'm preaching that folks need to take time to look into, learn about stuff in order to form intelligent and most importantly RATIONAL thoughts, then heck yes, you are right.


we're all busy.  no one has a 'ton' of extra time.  but folks who don't want to think too hard are often relegated to repeating stuff that may/may not be nonsense.

That our fisheries/outdoor biologists have to walk a line that on one side is political and the other science should not escape you either.

the 'hysteria' over snakeheads looks like it's primarily political.  which means it plays on fears.  and when folks deal from 'fear' they lose tough with rationality.


My point:  be smart.  want to be smarter.

[bigjim5589]

easternshore, I understand your concern & coldfront's point. Since there is little data, there should not be the hysteria. There should be & is, concern over their existence in our waters! I also agree that Snakeheads are invasive & should not be in our waters. But, Smallmouths are not native to many of our water's, are also in many waters, and that has not been a problem. Yes, Smallmouths were introduced long before we knew anything about environmental impacts, but fact is they were still an invasive species in some waters, that could have had negative impact.

It's certainly possible that Snakeheads could be a threat to LM bass fisheries, but as yet there is not enough data to really ascertain their true impact. Yes, data is being collected, but that will take time & it will take time to determine the how much damage, if any, they are doing.

This is the same type of hysteria about Zebra Mussels, and no one wants them either. They have impacted the Great Lakes, and some of their impact has been positive, since they clean the water. However, like Snakeheads, no one really knows what the long term impact will be & for now it is only a guess. Most of the hysteria with Zebra Mussels has been due to the fact that they clog pipes, which is really a financial problem. Zebra's are well established in the Great Lakes, they are likely there to stay.
It's certainly looks like that will be the case with Snakeheads in some waters, such as the Potomac.

As far as the bass in the Potomac, I remember reading an article about tidal bass in MD, written by one of the MD DNR fisheries biologists, that stated their are up's & down's with the LM populations due to many variables, since tidal water changes are affected by more variables than our freshwater. Could be that the current bass fishing in the Potomac is due to other things, and not just the Snakeheads. I would think they would certainly have some impact, since they're there, but again, as coldfront has stated, we just don't know what the extent will be, and should not lose our minds over it!

Snakeheads are here, we don't want them, and when caught, should be killed & removed. But, that's not going to eliminate them all, so at some point we may just have to live with them & deal with them as best we can. 

[coldfront]

It's certainly possible that Snakeheads could be a threat to LM bass fisheries, but as yet there is not enough data to really ascertain their true impact. Yes, data is being collected, but that will take time & it will take time to determine the how much damage, if any, they are doing.

This is the same type of hysteria about Zebra Mussels, and no one wants them either. They have impacted the Great Lakes, and some of their impact has been positive, since they clean the water. However, like Snakeheads, no one really knows what the long term impact will be & for now it is only a guess. Most of the hysteria with Zebra Mussels has been due to the fact that they clog pipes, which is really a financial problem. Zebra's are well established in the Great Lakes, they are likely there to stay.

Have been thinking about my post...and don't want to back away from any of it...but do want to apologize to folks that I'm sure I offended.

Laws are in place wherever snakes heads 'are' that they MUST be killed and not returned to the water.
That is a good thing.  Making sure anglers/recreationists can identify them and help meet the goals of the regulations is also a great thing.

I have a daughter.  she's never had a 'bad moment' with a spider in her life.  The cool little black fuzzy ones that jump quicker than a hiccup, the wolf spiders that run fast...garden orb spiders that create really cool webs...barn spiders...

yet her mother has an irrational fear of spiders...and so my daughter has taken to 'mimicking' the unreasonable behavior.  My point is that someday my daughter may have an irrational, panicked reaction to a spider that has no bearing on her safety...and in doing so create an unsafe (suppose she's driving?) situation.

Fear is good.  Fear is healthy.  but not to the point it over rides rational thought.


and Jim, you make an excellent point about invasive mussels...they're not as 'bad' as folks want to believe...although they are bad enough...and we don't want them.  If you start looking into the actual numbers (costs:  there's a great study done in Ohio) the cost numbers to clean water intakes INCLUDES the current level of costs for maintenance...those 'huge numbers' aren't 'additional' costs...

here is that article...

the information, for those not wanting to read the entire paper...can be found in the Results section
just another game played by our govt accountants.  Not that 'any' un necessary expenditures are not bad...but it doesn't look 'as bad' as has been 'feared'...


funny thing about reality:  it's rarely nearly as 'bad' as our imaginations want to make it.

[bigjim5589]

Fear is good.  Fear is healthy.  but not to the point it over rides rational thought.

Funny how as you get older, you're perspective on things change to the point, that you think about things more before forming an opinion! 

The fact is, once these invasive species are there in any numbers, there is little we can do, except deal with it. Irrational behaviour after the fact, won't change anything.

I'm sure a person running a business that has to deal with Zebra Mussels clogging their intake pipes will have a different perspective & opinion about them, than someone who's happy that they're cleaning up the water!

In the case of Snakeheads, it's my opinion that nature will deal with them, one way or the other, despite the best efforts by the biologists. They may replace LM bass in some waters, or they may just coexist & become a whole different form of recreation. It will however be a long time before we know, regardless of what the biologists or anyone else thinks about the situation.

Some of the tidal rivers I've fished on MD's eastern shore have had the fish populations diminished by droughts & algae blooms over the years, but always seem to recover. There are always up's & downs! As I said, nature deals with these things. It may not be to our liking, but it will be dealt with. All we can do as anglers with Snakeheads, is the best we can. Follow & abide by the regulations that have been put in place & hope for the best.

And you thought Snakeheads are a problem!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46194981#.TyhLdFyJd2A