Just wondering about its impact on bassfishing. Been about 20 yrs now and I know a lot are killed by fishermen and bow hunters. Just wondering thoughts about impact.
Just wondering about its impact on bassfishing. Been about 20 yrs now and I know a lot are killed by fishermen and bow hunters. Just wondering thoughts about impact.
2008 ChampioN 198 / 225 Opti ProXS! 1999 187 DC Elite / Merc 175 efi & 1989 184 DCR /Merc 175 xri
I haven’t caught one in years. I don’t know if they had much of an impact. I know the night rangers are out in their lit up Jon boats every night. The guys I talk to at the ramp when I’m loading the boat say they get lots of them with the bow, so I guess they are keeping the population down. I bet I catch one this weekend since I said I haven’t caught one in a while.
2010 BassCat Puma FTD
2010 Mercury 250 Pro XS
The bow fishing tournaments have taken a toll on the heads. Maybe I catch one out of 5+ trips now and I kill it. There previous haunts of ultra skinny water has evolved into main river grass ledges. Same as a bass. The waterman running hoop nets for catfish are also pulling allot of them out of the bio-mass further reducing there numbers. Kill every one...
I haven't caught one yet this year but I sure do see a bunch of bow fishing pictures posted on Facebook.
May want to try the
Susquehanna River for heads...
https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fish...53e018b62.html
Seems like there are a lot in the Rappahannock now.
2013 Phoenix 721 XP
2013 Mercury 250 Pro XS
Lowrance HDS Carbon 9 and HDS 9 gen 3
Twin 10' Talons
I have not been in VA fishing for last 2 years and was discussing this with friends in VA who bowhunt them. My opinion is simple - Kill them ALL - . I was hearing they are considering to classify them as a "Game fish" and wondering IF that would stop the bowhunting... They are seemingly gaining a following and when I left VA I was catching them regularly and I believe as Mike indicated that the bowhunting /killing has kept them in check for last 20yrs. If that stops because they are a "Game fish", I'm thinking that would really mess things up.
Just my thoughts.
James,
MD, PRFC, and VA all still say the heads are invasive and are to be killed. Has not/will not change.
Got to stay off Assbook..
I think blue cats are as bad or worse than snakeheads. we should kill them
Chris Hawkins
Ranger 520VX / Mercury Optimax 225
They are great to eat. in my top 5
Way less than 2011-2014 but now we have blue cats. Fried blue cat will give snake a run for its money any day I swear. It's like eating crappie that actually tastes good.
Mike's low country catfish stew recipe.
2 pounds bacon
3 large white onions
3 large bell peppers
3/4 pound okra
5 pounds russet potatoes
5 pounds catfish
29 oz can tomato sauce
2 each 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
12 oz tomato paste
6 oz Texas Pete
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon pepper
Preparation:
Dice onions 1/4"
Dice peppers 1/4"
Cut bacon into 1/4" strips
Cut fish into 1/2" cubes
Slice okra to 1/4" (yield 2 1/2 cups)
Peel potatoes. Cut into 1/4" cubes.
You need a large pot capable of holding 3 gallons. (I use my wife's
canning pot and have extra room.)
In separate pot, boil potatoes with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Just bring to a
boil and remove/drain. Your only trying to remove some starch, not fully
cook them. Set aside.
In separate pan, saute bacon until it's limp. Transfer everything from
that pan into the large pot.
*Add the onions and cook till they just start to brown.
*Add the peppers and cook a few minutes till they start to soften.
*Add all the canned items, salt, pepper, Texas Pete, and cook on medium
heat for 15 minutes while stirring.
*Add potatoes, okra, and fish.
*Cook/stir on low for 45 minutes or until fish breaks down thoughly.
Season to taste.
This is a hearty stew & freezes well. Give yourself 3 hours+ to make
this.
Last edited by mikesxpress; 07-09-2020 at 09:28 AM.
You must have been in a different low countrynever used okra or potatoes in my catfish stew. It does freeze well!
Boyce in the Charleston, SC area we put okra in damn near everything.
Okra, as with catfish is to be FRIED, not BOILED!
Don't know if they affected bass fishing in Marshyhope Creek, a tributary of the Nanticoke river, but I caught two in excess of 8 pounds each yesterday in Marshyhope on crankbaits. They are vicious on the strike, seemed to want to kill the 1.5 on the strike. I don't have the heart to kill them, I guess I'm a wuss.
I've caught one in the bay, last year Question I have is how to efficiently kill them? The billy club would seem to make a mess. Heard cutting between the gill plats under the chin??Originally Posted by billnorman1
2017 Phoenix 819
2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD
Lay them on the bottom of the boat and shoot them. The one I killed last year, I cut its tail off, right behind its gills. I had to do that to get my crankbait back, it had inhaled it.
If your fishing anywhere there are heads you need to have a Boca Grip style fish holder and a sharp thin bladed knife with a 5" long blade. Once you get the fish hung by the grip over the side of the boat insert the knife just below his "chin" and make a single cut all the way down to his anal vent. Release.
I've killed allot of them over the years and this is the cleanest/quickest way to dispatch them. There slimey, crap all over, and taste like dirt, but the turtles like them!
I haven't eaten any but those that have tell me they taste great.
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