I didn’t know snakeheads had spread to Florida until a guide down there asked if I wanted to try for them. Figured why not—I’d never caught one. Three hours later, I was hooked on maybe the most aggressive freshwater fish I’ve ever encountered.
The bullseye snakehead is technically an invasive species. It’s also an incredible gamefish. That tension makes them complicated.
What They Are
Snakeheads are Asian fish that can breathe air, tolerate nasty water conditions, and eat basically anything. The bullseye snakehead—named for the eyespot pattern on its tail—established itself in South Florida sometime in the late 1990s, probably from aquarium releases.
They look prehistoric. Long body, flattened head, mouth full of teeth, and those weird eyespots that make them look like they’re watching you from both ends. First time I got one boatside, I understood why people find them unsettling.
Unlike their larger cousin the northern snakehead, bullseyes have stayed mostly confined to South Florida. The tropical waters suit them; they don’t handle cold well. That’s the main thing keeping them from spreading up the coast.
Why Anglers Love Them
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about snakeheads: they fight like smallmouth bass on steroids. Aggressive strikes, hard runs, acrobatic jumps. They hit topwater lures with explosions that make your heart stop.
That first one I caught—maybe five pounds—ate a frog pattern with the violence I associate with tarpon. Then it jumped three times, threw spray everywhere, and generally refused to come in quietly. I was laughing by the time I got it boatside.
They’re also not leader-shy or particularly picky about presentation. If you’re near one and throwing something that moves, you’ve got a shot. After years of finesse fishing for pressured bass, that enthusiasm is refreshing.
The Ethical Question
Here’s where it gets complicated. Snakeheads are invasive, meaning they don’t belong in these waters and potentially harm native species. In many states, it’s illegal to release them alive if you catch one. The official position is that they should be killed.
I understand the logic. Invasive species can devastate native ecosystems. The Everglades already have enough problems without apex predators that can survive in conditions that would kill native fish.
But the science is still developing. Some studies suggest snakeheads have integrated into the ecosystem without the catastrophic effects predicted. Native fish populations haven’t crashed in areas where snakeheads are established. They’ve become part of the food web rather than destroying it.
I follow the regulations—I don’t release snakeheads where that’s illegal—but I also think the panic about them has sometimes exceeded the evidence.
Fishing Tactics
The guide who introduced me to snakeheads used heavy tackle—20-pound braid minimum—because these fish head for cover immediately when hooked. Light line means lost fish and lures hanging in the vegetation.
Frog patterns and walking baits work best over the heavy vegetation they favor. Cast tight to cover, work the bait slowly, and hold on. The strikes come fast and hard.
They’re sight feeders during the day and will eat in low light too. I’ve caught them at dawn, midday, and dusk. They don’t seem to have an off period the way some species do.
Where To Find Them
South Florida canals hold most of the bullseye snakehead population. The C-14, C-13, and other managed waterways have established populations that reproduce successfully.
They like vegetation—water hyacinth, lily pads, shoreline grass. Structure-oriented like largemouth bass, but even more willing to penetrate dense cover. Sometimes they’re way back in stuff you’d never throw into for bass.
Local guides know the canals that fish best for them. One trip with someone who knows the water will teach you more than hours of exploration on your own.
My Take
I catch snakeheads when I’m in South Florida now. The fishing is too good to skip. They’re here, they’re likely here to stay, and pretending they don’t exist doesn’t help anything.
Whether you consider them a problem to be managed or a new gamefish to be enjoyed probably depends on your perspective. I lean toward the latter, with awareness of the former. That feels like honest engagement with a complicated situation.
