How to catch Northern snakehead

Northern snakehead feed in 55–92°F water and bite best at 68–86°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 5 waters; in October they are at their peak in Maryland fresh water, Virginia fresh water, Delaware fresh water and 2 more.

25 pts · trophy at 30"Feeds 55–92°FBest 68–86°FIn season nowCreek / streamRiverPond / pitCanal

About

The invader of the Potomac: a long, blotched, air-breathing predator from Asia now established in the tidal Potomac, the Chesapeake tributaries and around Philadelphia. It guards its fry ferociously in summer — and must never be released alive.

How to fish it

Frogs and swimbaits over the shallow milfoil and spatterdock in the tidal creeks from April to September; look for the orange fry ball and the adult under it.

What it eats

hollow-body frogspaddle-tail swimbaitslive minnows

Live bait for it

Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.