Over the past decade, the waterways of southern Florida have experienced an invasion. An invasion of a particular species of fish which many are calling “frankenfish.” This fish is none other than the species known as the bullseye snakehead. Native to Southeast Asia, these fish were brought here by accident through Asian markets that were selling live specimens for food and medicinal purposes. They first began to appear only in small canals around the Miami area, but now have spread through Florida’s canal systems and are now being seen in areas of Palm Beach County. These fish are voracious predators by nature and will strike at almost anything that crosses their path. Biologists have become increasingly concerned about the impact the spread of these top predators will have on our freshwater ecosystems. Snakeheads typically consume the same forage that native fish species like largemouth bass consume such as frogs, fish, and even rats. These fish also thrive in sub-tropical environments, so South Florida’s warm and humid environment has allowed the snakeheads to not only become well established but to thrive in our waterways.
When it comes to appearance, the snakehead certainly will turn heads when it is first pulled out of the water. They typically are brown or black on their dorsal side and have somewhat of an orange tint on their ventral side. They have a very long dorsal and anal fin which allows them to glide smoothly through the water in a snake-like manner. They also have a very large, pointed head which gives them their snake-like appearance along with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. The snakeheads are characteristically aggressive fish and are renowned for valiantly defending their young when they hatch. This dedication to defending their young has also made it easier for snakehead species to spread so quickly because it allows more of their fry to mature.
Florida is not the only place in America experiencing a snakehead invasion either. Certain areas of the northeast are also seeing a larger species of snakehead, known as the giant snakehead, appear in some of their waterways. As anglers it is our duty to protect the places we fish and part of that responsibility includes catching and removing nonnatives such as the snakehead. Luckily for anglers snakeheads are a very sporty fish and also delicious table fare, so targeting them should not be much of an issue. Snakeheads typically hunt by waiting and watching near the surface, so any fast moving top water bait such as a soft plastic frog, buzz bait, jitterbug, or spinnerbaits will almost always produce fish if snakeheads are in your area. One bait I would certainly recommend would be a new spinnerbait put out by Razor Baits called “The Whip”. This spinnerbait is unique due to the fact that the spinners are actually attached to a cable, not straight wire, allowing them to bend whenever they come into contact with weeds or other aquatic structure. This gives you as a fisherman a huge advantage, especially when fishing for snakeheads since they are often found hunting in very shallow grass lines or underneath lily pads. When using this bait for snakeheads I would recommend that you allow the bait to stay close enough to the surface to allow the spinners to leave a wake in its path. If you are looking for a way to change up your fishing routine and also want to do your part in restoring Florida’s ecosystems, I would encourage you to get out and experience the thrill of battling the bullseye snakehead.