Do you love big bluegill?

Not a bluegill, but...

Probably a few hundred bluegill went into growing this hulk, so maybe that counts?

It's the infamous Northern Snakehead (26", 8 lb), my first time to catch one. It's too big to fit in a selfie!

I was doing my usual thing, walking a jig with short cranks under a bobber. The bait was a little more aggressive this time: a three-inch storm shad instead of my typical 2-inch curly-tail.

Anyway, I always enjoy sharing my more dramatic moments. Thanks!

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Comment by Jim Gronaw on October 10, 2014 at 9:41pm: We actually targeted them last year in the Mattawoman on MD's side of the Potomac. Came up empty, but most guys who bass fish the Potomac have encountered them. Great fish!

Comment by Michael Stockelman on October 3, 2014 at 3:21am: Jason, I was at a marina at Bolling Air Force Base, in the southern tip of Washington DC. The marina is a little cove a couple hundred feet across, mostly separated from the main river by a rock wall. The tide had almost bottomed out, and I caught it in 3-4 feet of water.

Comment by dick tabbert on October 2, 2014 at 8:21am: Unusual fish but I can see lots of drag pulling there.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 2, 2014 at 7:04am: Another first for me, too.

I dont know how you could mistake one for a bowfin, though. Look at that superb pattern.

4 lbs of fillet - thats nice. Like you say, they're here now. May as well catch them and enjoy.

Comment by Jason Preslar on October 2, 2014 at 6:16am: I want to catch one! Where was this caught if you don't mind me asking? Thanks and awesome fish!

Comment by Allen Morgan on September 30, 2014 at 6:49pm: I hear they're tasty!

Do you have any Asian friends, or know anyone that works in a Chinese restaurant? If so, ask them what's the best way to prepare those things.

Whenever you're fishing, keep your eyes open for bait-balls of Snakehead fry. The fry are bright red. Momma and Poppa will be very close, so throw a big noisy topwater towards the fry and hang on.

Comment by Slip Sinker on September 30, 2014 at 6:16pm: those fillets must have looked huge!

Comment by Michael Stockelman on September 30, 2014 at 6:07pm: Thanks, guys!

The fight was an action comedy, with me scrambling to put the pole down somewhere that I probably wouldn't lose it while I dug my folding net out of the car. Surprisingly, the fish didn't make any long runs on the drag, but it did kick a lot. I don't know if that's typical, for them to thrash more than swim away.

Four pounds of filet meat in the end. (Officially, snakeheads can't be released; the regulations are trying to limit their spread, even though that ship has already sailed.) It was a female with eggs- I read yesterday that under ideal conditions they can spawn five times a year.

Comment by Slip Sinker on September 30, 2014 at 6:25am: wow great fish

this fish is on my bucket list... not just one but many of them. lol

must have been a great battle!

great eaters too