Snakehead roundup 9-18-2011

[Ridgehand]

Nature will regulate the spread of snakeheads. As we know, the Cobra Snakehead is a tropical species and they will only be able to tolerate a certain drop in temperature. Be grateful we don't have the Northern Snakehead. Dan, I can't wait to get my hands on those frogs! Also, thanks for the "how to" post.

[danb]

There in lies the problem, we would need multiple days of sustained water temperatures below 50 degrees F in order to kill them off, and that is not likely to happen anytime soon.

With this in mind to preserve any kind of balance we fishermen and women are the only thing standing between snakeheads becoming the dominant fish in our waters.

Those that say do not keep them because you are such a conservationist, and in it for the sport think about the native fish populations we are actually trying to protect before you release the next one.

[Ridgehand]

Dan, is there a place where I donate my excess catch?

[danb]

Right now no, I clean them keep what I want for dinner and give the rest to my co-workers. I can not catch enough to keep them happy but what a motivational tool , fresh fish week in and week out.

[Ridgehand]

That's funny! I guess snakehead is a crowd pleaser, on the plate that is. I was at Bass Pro today checking out the Extra Heavy/Extra Fast tip Extreme rod and it is sweet! It's 7'6" and strong enough to pull a bus. It may be a little over kill, but you won't lose any fish. I'm curious to see how my new set up is gonna handle a big snakehead with the 6'10" M/H and 50lb PowerPro.

[Bionic]

Ridgehand I stopped using Power Pro and switched to Fins XS. I had some premature breaking with PP. I have 4 different spools and every one of them breaks well below rated strength. I have had good luck so far with the Fins. I use 6'6" MH or H fast action Daiwa Zillion and Steez Rods. I wind up using my Steez set up 90% of the time. The reels ar 6.3:1 Steez and the 7.3:1 Zillion.

[Ridgehand]

Ridgehand I stopped using Power Pro and switched to Fins XS. I had some premature breaking with PP. I have 4 different spools and every one of them breaks well below rated strength. I have had good luck so far with the Fins. I use 6'6" MH or H fast action Daiwa Zillion and Steez Rods. I wind up using my Steez set up 90% of the time. The reels ar 6.3:1 Steez and the 7.3:1 Zillion.

I hope I don't have the same experience with Power Pro. Thanks for the heads up. I was thinking of getting a heavy action setup as well. The extra heavy Extreme rod I mentioned is perfect for braid. It's got a nice extra fast tip that's soft to absorb the lack of stretch in the braid and for casting lighter baits, but it's got a ton of backbone. The thing with a lot of heavy action rods is that they are like broom sticks. The extra heavy & heavy action Bass Pro Extreme rods have a little more flex in the tip, plus at $100 or $160 for the combo with the Extreme reel, it's a great deal. I have a couple of Extreme reels, the older and newer ones and they're great. My new one has a 7:1 gear ratio.

[shmegger]

Forget about snakeheads. If you are worried about invasive species, there are bigger fish to fry. Ok, smaller in some cases. There is a lionfish roundup coming up in Dec, in the upper keys. Lionfish look great in an aquarium, but they are are lethal invasive on the reefs. They can be caught by hook and line or diving/spearing for the tourney.

So get out there and help out for a good cause. Take one home for your tank, but for God's sake, don't flush it after it eats all your clownfish. There is supposed to be one Nov 5 too, but I cant find a link.

http://www.reef.org/lionfish/roundup/pennekamp

[sebastien]

They eat them silly, hell they have to be better then ribbon fish.. i have seen people
catch them/clean them and eat them on the spot
:

LOL!

[JustTVH]

Danb, I like the fact that FWC is behind everything you guys do 110%. That says something in my eyes. They don't have the resources to do what is being done by local fisherman. And to those who are against cutting the jaws on a snakehead, Try it one time it kills them INSTANTLY.

I'm not talking about removing the jaw; cut the jaws right @ the henge. Faster and much nicer in my opinion than A. Clubbing them ( Doesnt always work. ) and B. Fishing where some on looker, looks over and watches you club the fish.

[danb]

Firs off I would not say FWC is officially behind what we do 100%, are we in contact with them, do we report new bodies of water where snakeheads are found, they show up gathering data and interview anglers , yes we do work closely with FWC but on a volunteered basis there is no official support from FWC on what we do at our Snakehead Round Up's.

Second not sure by cutting the jaws actually kills them dead like you said, it may affect motor skills but I can not see cutting their jaws killing them since I have caught enough with mutilated jaws, cracked skulls, actually caught two with bite chucks out of their heads that were completely healed.

I prefer a good knock in the head to stun them for handling safely, then on ice. It does not kill them quickly but it does show intent if FWC law enforcement pulls up and checks the cooler.

[danb]

Yep you guys are right they are not mindless killing Machine's. Here is what was in five we caught today. All kinds of fish, turtle, dragon fly, and some kind of egg's.

[Bionic]

What no small children or dogs....damn Dan I thought you were going to show some crazy stuff.
You would have love the northern pikes I cleaned. One had two baby ducks in it's stomach and another one had a muskrat...they also loved squirrels and chipmunks.
Of course Largemouth eat pretty much the same stuff.

Hey I'm going to call you this week, going to be coming down there next weekend. I also might have a gift for ya

[Boca Jetty Rat]

Turtles nice. Is there a turtle topwater? I like running a 10 inch tequila worm with no weight like a snake. I'm gonna hit my hood for them tomorrow.

[danb]

What no small children or dogs....damn Dan I thought you were going to show some crazy stuff.
You would have love the northern pikes I cleaned. One had two baby ducks in it's stomach and another one had a muskrat...they also loved squirrels and chipmunks.
Of course Largemouth eat pretty much the same stuff.

Hey I'm going to call you this week, going to be coming down there next weekend. I also might have a gift for ya

No I do not think bass eat eggs, at least not as adults.

Looking forward to it, just keep in mind they all go in the cooler

[Ridgehand]

I'm sure stomach contents also reflect what prey items are available at that particular time of year. The egg thing is interesting and unexpected since they are so predatory. The fish look like shad. Did you find any bass fingerlings in their guts? Bionic, I saw a video of a pike taking a duckling. As soon as it swam away from the other ducklings the pike keyed in on it an nailed it. That fish's speed was blinding! I was watching a program on WFN the other night where these guys were fly fishing for pike. The marking on those fish are beautiful. I would love to hook into one! For now, I'll have to settle for snakeheads. I'll give you a call so we can arrange a little bank pounding when you come down.

[Bionic]

When I lived up north, pike and musky were my favorite to fish for and yes they can hit a bit with blinding speed. Muskies are the barracuda of freshwater

[Boca Jetty Rat]

I found snakeheads. Didn't land any though, they worked me like a googan. Next time its on for sure.

[Ridgehand]

I found snakeheads. Didn't land any though, they worked me like a googan. Next time its on for sure.

Don't under estimate them. Snakeheads are powerful so use stout tackle.

[Boca Jetty Rat]

The snakeheads I found were alot bigger and more powerfull than I had anticipated. One even put me under an old busted up culvert, running right into its hidey hole after blasting a frog at mach 1.

[danb]

The snakeheads I found were alot bigger and more powerfull than I had anticipated. One even put me under an old busted up culvert, running right into its hidey hole after blasting a frog at mach 1.

Yep, that is how they roll. I had a 36 inch fish do that to me while night fishing. Good thing was I had just upgraded to my 7 foot flipping rod, and had straight 80 pound power pro, she ran ten feet into the culvert and was hung on something in there, walked to the end of the pipe and muscled her out, wait until you get a big one tail walking while you are chasing it down the bank