"Stop the Snakehead" Derby at C&O Canal

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal

The �Stop the Snakehead� Fishing Derby took place on June 11 at Pennyfield Lock on C&O Canal. There were 65 participants who caught 1 snakehead and about 30 fish of other species (mainly largemouth bass and bluegill). Chris Jensen won the tournament's $50 Bass Pro Shops gift card by reeling in an 18.7 inch snakehead. The derby was organized to raise awareness and reduce the negative impact of snakeheads in our ecosystems. Snakeheads have spread beyond the Potomac River and throughout many tidal rivers in the Chesapeake Bay and in 2015 the species was found reproducing in the C&O Canal. Senator Lee was at the Derby along with staff from Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. The Derby had lots of fun activities for adults and kids, including raffle and door prizes, and fish prints for the youth anglers! A fish seining demonstration was conducted by Department of Natural Resources biologists from the Maryland Biological Stream Survey Staff and lots of interesting fish and critters were captured.

There's been a lot of interest in our doing this derby again next year! - Erik Zlokovitz, Maryland DNR, Recreational Fisheries Outreach.