It’s almost that time of the year where anglers will start running into snakeheads in the northeast and inevitably posts asking for ID help will return.
While I personally believe snakeheads are an absolute blast to catch, the catch and release laws say otherwise.
In states like Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, you’re legally required to kill any snakehead you catch. Killing a bowfin by mistake is a bad outcomes.
Here are the key differences:
∙Head shape - Bowfin have a short, rounded, almost tubular head. Snakeheads have a long, flat, wide head, exactly like a snake’s. Look from above if you can.
∙Anal fin - Bowfin have a short anal fin. Snakeheads have a long anal fin that runs much of the underside, mirroring the dorsal fin.
∙Pelvic fin position - Bowfin’s pelvic fins sit mid-body. Snakehead’s pelvic fins are up near the head/pectoral fins.
∙Scales - Bowfin feel smooth. Snakehead scales feel rough, like a bass.
∙ Tail spot -Male bowfin often have a distinctive black spot ringed with orange/yellow at the tail base. Snakeheads don’t have this.
Bowfin are native, have been in North America for over 100 million years, and deserve way more respect than the “trash fish” label they get. Snakeheads are invasive and spreading through the Potomac, Delaware, and Susquehanna watersheds.
If you’re not 100% sure, take photos from above the head, the anal fin, and the full side profile before doing anything.
Full breakdown with a comparison table here: https://www.catchvault.co/articles/northern-snakehead-vs-bowfin-how-to-tell-them-apart
Posted by Acrobatic-Resident12