It looks like a snake and a bass had a baby: the northern snakehead fish is an invasive species that's on the rise in Missouri, and conservationists say if you catch one, show it no mercy.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says it recently removed a northern snakehead from a Missouri tributary to the Eleven Point River in Oregon County. The species is native to China, but its presence in Missouri is on the rise, with a breeding population found in southern Missouri in 2024.
Killing a northern snakehead isn't as easy as simply tossing it up on the shore, though. These fish can breathe air. And they can basically walk.
(Video by Andre Malok)
The MDC recently posted on their Facebook page:
Off with their heads! 😵 We recently removed a northern snakehead fish from a Missouri tributary to the Eleven Point River in Oregon County. Sadly, this latest find means the invasive fish is becoming more common in Missouri.
If you come across a northern snakehead, do not release it or throw it on the bank, as it could move back to the water or to a new waterbody. Northern snakehead are airbreathers 👀 and can live a considerable amount of time out of the water. Please kill the fish by severing its head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag.
So if you catch one, kill it. Based on anglers' accounts, you'll probably enjoy the fight: they're famous for putting up a mighty battle on the hook. And they reportedly taste great, too.
The USGS has a helpful image for distinguishing the northern snakehead from the native bowfin fish.
