Looking to head down next month to try snakehead fishing. Was thinking of trying the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg. I have a 14’ Jon boat with mud motor. I have no idea if this is a good spot. I was wondering if they are in there and if my boat will work in the river. Looks like it narrows pretty good.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/08/08/210141705/world-record-snakehead-fish-caught-in-u-s
there is a boat landing near government island

I just read that article.  I had no idea people actually eat Snakeheads.  I wonder how good they really are?

I’ve never had one but I have friends that say they’re pretty good.

There is a guy who bought some boat seats from me told me they are better tasting than walleye. I would like to bring a cooler full back home

Not better than walleye.

The Rap above Frederick is not a place I would go for them.  Some have likely found their way up there but not in big numbers.  Besides, they prefer low and slow water.  The tidal creeks flowing into the Potomac are the places to go.  Aquia, Quantico,Occoquan, Pohick, in MD Mattawoman and Pomonkey.

Thanks for the info. I’ll check those places out. 14’ Jon boat ok up those creeks ?

Also check out Widewater state park. They have a boat ramp. If you can get ahold of a kayak or canoe you can put in at Crows nest Natural area. Apex Predators Potomac Creek, does snakehead charters. If you are into stripped bass, Lake Anna has a lot of charter services.

Thanks I will check out widewater. I seen apex predator online. If my son doesn’t go with me I might try them and get a feel for the area.

Used to work with a guy that caught them in Lake Anna,

he said they are delicious

Do not catch and release. They are an invasive species. All should be killed.

No problem.

Absolute favorite freshwater fish, hands down.

Depending on what else interests you while you’re down, I’d start with Aquia creek.

Willow landing or Hope Springs are the best launches.

Snakeheads like calm shallow water.  Like barely deep enough to swim shallow. Edges of grass beds and vegetation.  Depending on timeframe, the fry balls are starting to show up.  Cast around them, the mothe will defend it.

I’ve done my best with swim baits like a Keitech 3.3 or 3.8, and top water frogs.  Much like bass, set the hook only once they’ve taken the lure down.  I try to count to 5 and set the hook like I’m ripping them in the boat.

Do not put your hands in their mouth.  A jaw spreader and lip gripper are a must.

Feel free to DM if you have need any more info about the area.

ETA-There are plenty of snakeheads in the Rappahannock and some in the Rapidan.  Harder to get to, but less pressure than the Potomac.

I worked with someone whose parents came from Cambodia, and they went nuts when they figured out they're to be eradicated. Like every free minute, they were fishing, it's a delicacy.

The Monday after a bumper weekend some came into the office, and I have to say it was really good, especially considering it was fish leftovers. Think lean eel, or buttery/pleasantly oily catfish (I grew up on Mackerel, so not sure how it relates).

It's law. You MUST kill any caught.

You only are required to kill them if you keep them. You can release them back into the same body of water you caught them in.

From Va. DWR:
" Anglers are required to report snakeheads kept but are not required to kill them if caught and immediately released.  Snakeheads must be dead if in possession (contained in live well, cooler, etc.)  However, the Department asks that all snakeheads be killed if possible. If an angler wishes to keep a legally caught northern snakehead, the fish must be killed to be in possession, and the angler must call the hotline or other DWR contact and report the angler's last name, date of catch, location of catch, and size."

Please eat or capture all the Blue Catfish as well.  I’ve suggested open season no limits on Blue catfish would help cull some.

For most of the rivers there is no limit except a limit of one over 32".   A limit on big ones is stupid as those are the females producing the most eggs- up to 4000 eggs per lb of fish.
The big ones also eat more herring and shad.

I'm right across the road from Government Island, I've been wanting to catch some snakehead for years, but that place is so packed every time I've taken my boy there I've just given up.

I DO think there's a rather large snakehead in the runoff pond in my backyard.  10+ years ago, developer and county both said it would be a dry pond...someone *cough* planted water lilies, which thrived, so they could point to them and say "dry pond, huh?"  Someone else added goldfish, and a few years later we were looking at the pond wondering if any of them survived, and speak of the devil, one lone goldfish swam out from the lily pads and started feeding at the surface.  Then that 1 turned into about 50, huge school of them.  We're staring intently, it was kinda beautiful, then WHAM, something big, long and dark struck hard right in the middle of the school.  Haven't seen a goldfish since.  Suspect it was a snakehead, but it's only a guess.

County actually came out a few years ago to drain it...they took one look and said naaa, we ain't destroying that.  They came on a good day, it's not so purty in the winter.

I am headed down to fish monday. Thanks for all the info. I decided to get a guide since I have never fished tidal waters before. I figured the money would be well spent. I’ll post pics if I get some

Looking forward to the pics, and if the guide is good would like to get some contact info, my boy has been bugging me to take him fishing again.

Please kill any you catch.

They know the person who released this species; it was an immigrant from China who was living in Maryland and he wanted to introduce them for a free supply of food from his homeland. Sad day.


Edit:  

Yeah - it was a pond in Crofton, MD, in 2002:

Snakeheads became a national news topic in the United States because of the appearance of C. argus, commonly known as northern snakeheads, spawning in a Crofton, Maryland, pond in 2002. Northern snakeheads became permanently established in the Potomac River around 2004,[11]

Try the Potomac near great falls.

The creeks in the Patapsco River also have a lot of snakeheads.

Further south you have lake Brittle in Virginia loaded with snakeheads as well as Lake Anna.

Check on the Potomac in the  Nebsaco creek by Leesylvania state park, place is LOADED once the vegetation grows in.


Tight Lines