Angler Catches & Releases Snakehead in Catawba River
Snakehead (United States Geological Survey)
credit Duane Raver
Mistaken his catch as a Bowfin the angler measured weighed, and photographed it before returning it back to the river. Latter it was determined that it was actually a snakehead when experts looked at the photo. The Snakehead and the Bowfin look very similar so anglers need to be careful not to unknowingly release the very destructive Snakehead fish. NC Wildlife is asking anglers for some help;
Q] If anglers suspect they have caught a snakehead, they are asked to keep it, freeze it or place it on ice, and report the capture to the Wildlife Resources Commission at
(919) 707-0220.
[q
From everything I hear this is not a specie we want loose in any of our waters in NC.
[...] Back in May an angler caught and released a Northern Snakehead while fishing in the Catawba River and now reports are out that a Piranha has been caught. This time the angler kept the toothy crappie shaped fish and turned it over to North Carolina Wildlife Commission. Officer Norwood of the NWC agreed with angler Jerry Melton that the fish did appear to be a Piranha probably dumped after getting to big for someone’s home aquarium. [...]
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