Was fishing at the Erwin bridge late evening on 1/31/15 and caught a snakehead fish. Did some research and learned they are not good for our lakes. Did not know we had them in our lakes here in central TX. Have any of you caught one or know someone that caught one.

We really need to see a picture of the fish you caught. Our native bowfin gets mistaken for the snakehead all the time so it would really help if you posted up your catch.

That's Bad news. In Arkansas the Game and Fish department used rotenone to kill an entire river system once someone caught a Snakehead. I saw one in the Mulberry while fishing there but didn't say a word, as I didn't want them to butcher an entire river over a single fish.

Not sure Texas would do that but they might. By the way, those snakeheads are good to eat. That's why the asians are releasing them in our waterways.

everyone brings their own culture here and treats it as the place they came from.Amerasiamexistan

what he said

Thanks for the post MJHartman. The fish I caught is a bowfin not a snakehead. Are the bowfin good to eat?

I don't know if they're good to eat but they sure are fun to catch

Our native bowfins are not particularly good on the table, but you are welcome to try to eat it and report back to us. Their roe on the other hand rivals some of the high dollar Russian stuff.

I have caught a few bowfin at the lake in in the creeks. I asked a park ranger at Nails Creek Park a couple of years ago what it was, and he called it a grinnell catfish.

Bowfin are fine table fare, but you must cook them fresh.

Filet and put immediately in ice water, batter and fry as quick as you can.

Meat turns to mush fairly quickly.


Had relatives that used to fish for them in January for the eggs. They would fish for days and keep all of their fish in their shrimp nets. Would have to sell them live. They made a ton of money because most people would fish for them and have to run in sell the same day.

They would dock their shrimp boat at the hunting camp and fished while we were hunting. Almost every day for lunch we'd filet a bunch of the males and have fried fish. Never heard the first person complain about them.

When fishing was slow and we wanted fish we would hang limb lines in shallow grassy bayous with a small perch just barely under the water where it was constantly causing a commotion on the surface. Normally we wouldn't make it very far before the choupique would hammer it. We'd catch 4 or 5 and then go have a fresh lunch. We loved them as kids.

If you can keep them alive in a livewell until you get home they are really good. I do not suggest icing them down however.

Those fish are nasty and put up a good fight! I wouldn't even bother trying to eat one-IMO

Florida is pretty notorious for introduced species, I think the wild boar is introduced too; correct me if I am wrong. All these introduced animals are wreaking havoc on the local eco-system. Lot of groups are responsible in some manner for introduced species not just Asians. People that want to keep exotic pets and then release them.