They first showed their ugly – and I mean ugly – heads in Virginia waters back in 2004. The Wildlife Department was most concerned. They feared these imports from Asia would cut into the bass population. As such, biologists did their best to eradicate snakeheads. But it was like finding a needle in a haystack. The “Snakes” are here to stay. Below is an update from DWR.
Snakeheads are now caught in most major Virginia river drainages – Potomac, Rappahannock, York and now James Rivers, as well as many reservoirs.
Northern Snakeheads were discovered in Virginia in 2004 and may be found in the Potomac River almost anywhere – from above Great Falls downstream to Chesapeake Bay. Although verified in non-tidal sections of the Potomac and its tributaries above Washington, D.C., most snakeheads are still found primarily in tidal waters from D. C. downstream to Colonial Beach (and in tributaries of D.C., Maryland and Virginia within this reach). They are very abundant in all of Virginia’s tidal tributaries to the Potomac River within this reach (e.g., Little Hunting Creek, Dogue Creek, Pohick Creek, Occoquan River, Neabsco Creek, Quantico Creek, and Aquia Creek).
Snakeheads were first documented in 2012 in the Rappahannock River system – they apparently colonized several creeks in the lower portion of the tidal Rappahannock (below Port Royal) via natural dispersal from the Bay (they appear to be using less-dense fresh water over saltwater during storms as a dispersal mechanism) but were also illegally introduced to Ruffin’s Mill Pond south of Fredericksburg. The resulting colonization was likely the source of fish captured in Massaponax Creek and upper portions of the tidal Rappahannock. Anglers should expect to encounter snakeheads almost anywhere in the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg but at lower densities than currently seen on the Potomac. They have recently been encountered in greater abundance in areas of the fall line and at barriers in the watershed (e.g., Rapidan Mill Dam) following spring, pre-spawn migrations upstream.
Ruffin’s Mill Pond has been joined recently by Hunting Run Reservoir (Spotsylvania County), Pelham Reservoir (Culpeper County), Abel Reservoir (Stafford County), Burke Lake (Fairfax County), and Occoquan Reservoir (Fairfax/Prince William line) as all waters receiving illegal stockings of northern snakeheads. An individual was arrested and prosecuted for illegally stocking snakeheads in Lake Brittle (Fauquier County) in 2015. A bill was passed during the 2017 Virginia General Assemble providing for increased penalties for persons illegally moving (stocking) snakeheads. Anglers are encouraged to visit these lakes and harvest all snakeheads caught. They are excellent table fare.
Snakeheads were found to be self-sustaining in Lake Anna in 2017. Thus far, none have been found downstream of North Anna Dam. However, as of May 2018; they were reported from multiple reservoirs in the James River watershed – undoubtedly a result of callous, illegal stocking from short-sighted individuals.
When fishing, anglers should familiarize themselves with the fish species found in Virginia. There are several native species including bowfin, lamprey, and American eel that look like the northern snakehead. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource has established a snakehead hotline that anglers can use to report snakehead fish (804-367-2925). There is also a new, easy-to-use web application for reporting observations.
Anglers are required to report snakeheads kept but are not required to kill them if caught and immediately released. They must be, however, dead if in possession.If an angler wishes to keep a legally caught northern snakehead, the fish must be killed to be in possession, and the angler must call the hotline or other DWR contact and report the angler’s last name, date of catch, location of catch, and size.