Patuxent River Snakeheads

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Patuxent River

Southern Region biologists were recently out electrofishing the Patuxent River north of Jug Bay. In just a few hours of fishing, we collected over 20 Northern Snakehead and saw many more. We caught fish up to about 8 lbs, but there most were under 3-4 lbs. The invasive fish's population seems to be growing in the Patuxent River and several year classes were collected. For anglers looking to catch these fish, we encountered them at low tide in 2-4 ft of water. The fish were sitting on mud flats (away from other structure) where water temperatures tended to be a little warmer than water in the main channel of the river. There were numerous bait fish and white perch in these same areas. Only a few fish were caught in creeks; most snakeheads were caught in the mainstem of the river on the wider mud flats. If you're lucky enough to catch a snakehead, be sure to kill it by 1) removal of gill arches, 2) evisceration, or 3) severing the head from the dorsal area in line with the pectoral fins, and completely through the spinal vertebrae. And don't be afraid to prepare them for dinner. They're pretty tasty.