Northern Snakeheads!!!

Since members of this forum don't like to see pics with background or mentioning of local fishing locations, how about a little something that does not offend anyone. :razz:

The stories (you really gotta read it!):

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2014/05/2014-virginia-day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2014/05/2014-virginia-day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2014/05/2014-virginia-day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2014/05/2014-virginia-day-4.html

The pics:



#387 for Elijah...tying my #387 for a short while...then completely surpassing my lifer count after. Super happy for Elijah and his accomplishments on this trip!



Swamp monster...



Finally a lifer for me...my only lifer of the trip...and my first lifer of 2014...yes, it was a difficult trip...



We caught more species...but Northern Snakeheads are just too cool not to highlight. Lia's lifer Northern Snakehead was impressive! It was about 8-9lbs, but the photographer did a pretty good job to make it look massive ;-)



The snakehead whisperer



Yes, we did have a blast!!!

** Only one snakehead was harmed in the making of this report. Unfortunately the pregnant girl was deep hooked and she could not survive. She was not wasted and she gave us some amazing fish tacos. All other snakeheads were released very much alive. We love them too much and would not think twice about releasing them.

** Before anyone condemn our release, please educate yourself on the snakehead status in the Potomac watershed first. These fish are well established in the area and there is no effective way to eradicate them anymore. In fact, Virginia no long mandate killing of any snakehead that is caught. The situation is similar to Round Goby issue in the Great Lakes. Killing one goby amounts to little if any impact on the entire population and it's just senseless killing of an individual fish. More and more anglers are now embracing the Northern Snakehead as a worthy adversery. In fact, the IGFA world record Northern Snakehead was caught from the Potomac River just a few years ago. If we actually embrace them, it could be the beginning of a trophy snakehead fishery. Similar shift in appreciation is happening in Florida toward the Cobra Snakehead.