Do snakeheads bite?
All snakeheads are aggressive predators and may eliminate other fishes in the waters they invade. They have even been known to bite humans who get too close to a guarded nest. The Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) is fairly cold tolerant, and could probably survive winters in many parts of the United States. They are opportunistic feeders and aren’t likely to reject something that’s alive and struggling. That said, the best snakehead fish baits include: Mummichog minnow (the bigger the better) Other small fish of any species.Kill the fish by freezing it or putting it on ice for an extended length of time. Photograph the fish if you have access to a camera so the species of snakehead fish can be positively identified. Contact your nearest fish and game agency or the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (703-358-2148) as soon as possible.
How aggressive is a snakehead fish?
Most snakehead fish will avoid contact with humans. In captivity, many will actually act shy around people. However, when guarding their eggs or young, they can become aggressive if approached. Snakeheads may be confused with several of our native fish species: bowfin (dogfish) and burbot.