Snakehead Fish Makes a Tasty Predator

The snakehead fish was introduced to Japan in 1923 and are now found in US waters. These fish survive throughout the continental US in a variety of habitats. They were first confirmed in Pennsylvania in July 2004 after a fish angler caught and preserved two of them. Northern snakeheads survive have been found in certain waters of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Snakefish are a very aggressive and powerful predator. Little to nothing can compete with them naturally and much of the snakehead behavior and biology remains greatly unknown. Northern snakeheads are large predators and can grow to three feet long. With teeth similar to pike and walleye fish, they are excellent hunters.

They have established a self-reproducing population causing ecological effects. Northern snakeheads are able to disrupt the entire food chain by consuming a large quantity and variety of prey, including other fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and water from time to time birds and small mammals. Snakehead fishes build nests by clearing a generally circular area in aquatic vegetation, often entwining the removed vegetation around the centrally cleared area. This results in a vertical column of water surrounded by vegetation. This, in turn, can lead to changes in dietary habits and availability of food for other organisms in the ecosystem.

Wildlife managers are always alert to prevent the spread of the fish to other rivers. The water area is sealed off, armies with toxins brought in, and over the course of months the fish are slain. These officials typically control and fight back the snakefish by using a product called Prenfish. This is a special formulation developed to eradicate fish from ponds, lakes, reservoirs and streams and has been used for many decades to restore aquatic ecosystems across the US. The active ingredient is an extract from several tropical plants and breaks down quickly after applying sustainable without toxicity and poses no threat to human health. The use of Prenfish means that locals must temporarily stop using any treated waters for irrigation, recreation, drinking or watering of livestock.

Snakeheads are said to produce like rabbits and are sometimes imported from Thailand. Despite their reputation, northern snakeheads are grown farmed and marketed across the country. The northern snakehead has become the most available species of live snakeheads in New York and Boston fish markets. They're said to be tasty with very tender flesh. Cooked with saw okra and dried chilies, along with a lot of ingredients, snakehead dishes may be served in a tangy flavorful sauce.