My used to be Junior World Record Snakehead

[kngfshman]

I caught this a long time ago when I had short hair

And I mean a LONG time ago. He was 9 pounds but I have caught one that is a new Junior World Record at 11.4 pounds but I did not enter it.

[TEAM SALT LIFE]

the snakehead i caught will blow those away.

[kngfshman]

How big was it?

[XenoFisher]

Ive fished alot of places in florida, but ive never seen anything like that. It looks pretty cool. Im pretty sure that they arent indigenous to florida, but were can you catch them? Im in western palm beach, county. just wondering how far south they are from there.

[PhishingPhanatic]

No, they're not indigenous, and they wreak havoc on native populations...if you catch one, cut its head off...

[JustTVH]

It is my personal mission to rid margate and cocnut creek of those dang things. I need to start taking pics and measurements of these monsters.,

[kngfshman]

It is my personal mission to rid margate and cocnut creek of those dang things. I need to start taking pics and measurements of these monsters.,

Let me ask you one question. If I didn't give a weight for that Snakehead, how much do you think he weighed?

[JustTVH]

7-8 lbs. ... it's at max length that I have seen but, hard to tell girth. they get about that big down here maybe a bit longer but, not much. now, girth wise... I've caught some real fat ones.

[kngfshman]

7-8 lbs. ... it's at max length that I have seen but, hard to tell girth. they get about that big down here maybe a bit longer but, not much. now, girth wise... I've caught some real fat ones.

............Aright. I was just makin sure because if you are catchin them around a 10 pound average or at least thats what it seems that your saying in your reports then you got yourself one hell of a spot.

[Cookinman]

They are great sportfish, outfightimg LGM's by a long throw and agressively defend their brrood. I have nailed some big ones on spinnerbaits even...lol

THE FWC does not recomend killing them. they DO Prohibit reintroducing them to water other than where they were caught. They atate and I have heard they are good table fare, being quite white and flakey. I have not ate one so cannot confirm.

I do however find something inherrantly wrong with catching then killing it for no reason just because it is a new species to Florida. Hell, that would mean most all of us should be killed for the same reason...

[fishnfool73]

Despite what anyone may think, I have seen the numbers of largemouth bass shrink to nothing over the last 20 years in South Florida. Soon after peacocks were introduced this decline started. You can not tell me that by introducing 2 new apex predators into the basses enviorment that you do not effect them. Both peas and snakeheads feed on the same things that largemouths feed on and bed in the same areas as well. With both peas and snakeheads being vicious defenders of their broods as well as much more aggresive feeders it can only be a matter of time til largemouths are all but extint in tthose fishes ranges. I do a lot of cooler checks in Davie and the number of largemouths that I see here has shrunk to nothing replaced by peas. Gone are the mosquito minnows, guppies, and small bream in Broward replaced by peas, cichlids, and tilipia.

[NosLaser]

Despite what anyone may think, I have seen the numbers of largemouth bass shrink to nothing over the last 20 years in South Florida. Soon after peacocks were introduced this decline started. You can not tell me that by introducing 2 new apex predators into the basses enviorment that you do not effect them. Both peas and snakeheads feed on the same things that largemouths feed on and bed in the same areas as well. With both peas and snakeheads being vicious defenders of their broods as well as much more aggresive feeders it can only be a matter of time til largemouths are all but extint in tthose fishes ranges. I do a lot of cooler checks in Davie and the number of largemouths that I see here has shrunk to nothing replaced by peas. Gone are the mosquito minnows, guppies, and small bream in Broward replaced by peas, cichlids, and tilipia.

Just my opinion, and a little playing of Devil's advocate here: This is the way I look at it. You have 3 apex predators (Peacock Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Snakeheads) feeding on the entire food supply. You have several introduced species (mayans, cichlids, tilapia, etc.) that comprise an entire new batch of food supply. All of the smaller introduced species produce at a much faster rate than the apex predators do, and a lot of the smaller introduced species will prey on the predator's eggs. I don't think Snakeheads are going to even make a DENT in the Largemouth Bass population. There is more than enough food to go around for everything. Believe it or not, I noticed more of a decline in the bass fishing when Grass Carp were introduced! They took away all the weeds from some of my prime fishing locations causing the fish to hold up elsewhere.

I say let nature take it's course. Granted they were introduced, but that is how the world works. That is how things evolve. The native species will re-adapt and overcome. I'm not gonna go on a mindless killing spree until I see scientific evidence that Snakeheads are having a DIRECT adverse affect on the native species. Unfortunately, most people operate on scare tactics, propaganda and fear rather than facts.