Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Non-Game Fisheries Biologist Doug Fischer holds a northern snakehead collected from the Conowingo Pool in the lower Susquehanna River. A picture of the fish caught in the Upper Delaware River was not available.
A northern snakehead was recently caught in the Upper Delaware River near Callicoon, NY. The invasive fish, native to Southeast Asia, are listed federally as “injurious wildlife.” Given the right conditions, this fish can prey on and compete with other fish, upsetting the natural balance of local ecosystems.
The Upper Delaware is known as one of the premier trout waters on the east coast.
“Any snakehead caught should be killed immediately and not released back into the water,” said Basil Seggos, commissioner of the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation).
In the event an angler catches a northern snakehead, DEC advises anglers to:
- Not release it back to the water;
- Kill the fish immediately;
- If possible, take pictures of the fish, including close-ups of its mouth, fins, and tail;
- Freeze it whole in case DEC needs to verify identification or collect tissue samples. Carcasses missing fillets can still be used by the DEC;
- Note where it was caught (water body, landmarks or GPS coordinates);
- Report the catch to the regional NYS DEC fisheries office, DEC’s Invasive Species Bureau at isinfo@dec.ny.gov or (518) 402-9425, or submit a report through iMapinvasives.
In New York State, snakeheads have been found in two ponds in Queens in 2005, and were eradicated from Ridgebury Lake in Orange County in 2008. DEC is currently sampling the location where the fish was located to determine if the population is widespread. DEC is also collaborating with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and National Park Service to monitor these invasive fish.
Snakehead closely resemble the native bowfin. The two are easily distinguished by the length of the anal fin, the bowfin having a much shorter one.