No Snakehead Today

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Gunpowder River

I went for another hunt for snakehead in the Gunpowder River today, but I didn't catch any. I catch the following with minnows: striped bass (rockfish), chain pickerel, yellow perch and white perch. All were returned back to water alive after taking photos. Even though I didn�t catch any snakeheads, I still had fun today and I'll come back again.

Question, I spoke with an NRP officer who was there checking on anglers and they told me if I caught a snakehead fish in the Gunpowder but I don�t want to keep it, I can put it back alive in water? Is that true? My understanding is that I have to kill it immediately because this is an invasive species. They told me if I want to keep it, then I have to kill it but if not, then I can return it back alive to the water where I caught it. I am confused, please enlighten me.

DNR RESPONSE: Thank you for your question. Yes, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages anglers to kill all three major invasive fish species (northern snakehead, blue catfish, and flathead catfish) when caught. It is not illegal to release a snakehead immediately in to the same water body where caught, HOWEVER, transporting live snakeheads to another location, alive, is illegal.