Maryland Man Arrows a World-Record Snakehead on a Charter Trip

Maryland outdoorsman Matt Foreman made a critical haul whereas on a chartered bowfishing journey earlier this month. Fishing the Susquehanna River the night time of June 7, Foreman harvested 26 snakeheads and a bonus blue cat together with his information, Capt. Nick Mather. A kind of snakeheads weighed 21.8 kilos, and along with breaking the Maryland report for the species, Foreman’s fish is a brand new bowfishing world report.

The Maryland Division of Pure Sources acknowledged Foreman’s state-record snakehead in an announcement Monday, noting that the report falls underneath the state’s Invasive Division. Maryland urges anglers to catch and kill as many invasive snakeheads as they’ll, and it’s unlawful to move these fish alive contained in the state. The same rules apply to flathead and blue catfish, which together with snakeheads are thought-about probably the most dangerous fish in Maryland waters. 

Learn Subsequent: How to Catch Snakeheads

The MDNR additionally referred to the fish as a “Chesapeake Channa” in its announcement. This new nickname for invasive northern snakeheads was invented in 2024 by Maryland lawmakers, who acknowledge the necessity to management snakehead populations and try to extend the species’ enchantment as a meals fish. Many East Coast anglers, although, already know that Chesapeake Channa is one of the most delicious fish in freshwater — and that features Foreman.

“They style good and everyone wins,” Foreman informed the MDNR, explaining why he likes to focus on snakeheads. An avid bowhunter, he mentioned he solely lately picked up the game of bowfishing and has been going out with Capt. Mather, who operates a neighborhood constitution service, Working Class Outdoorsmen.

Mather runs a customized, 26-foot bowfishing rig with platforms and lighting, which assist for recognizing fish. He informed the company they fished six totally different spots on the Susquehanna beneath Conowingo Dam the night time of June 7, and all their photographs had been taken from 10 ft or nearer. Mather added that he’s been seeing among the greatest snakehead fishing in seven years this spring and summer time.

Foreman’s huge Channa barely beat out the earlier state report, which weighed 21 kilos on the nostril and was caught in Dorchester County in 2023. That Dorchester County fish stays the all-tackle world record within the eyes of the Worldwide Sport Fish Affiliation, because it was caught on a rod and reel, and the IGFA doesn’t acknowledge report fish taken with spears or bows. These data are as a substitute maintained by the Bowfishing Association of America, which has already licensed Foreman’s world-record snakehead with an official weight of 21 kilos 12.8 ounces, and a measurement of 37 inches lengthy.