Md. man sets record for largest catch of snakehead fish

Maryland Natural Resources officials say a Maryland man fishing at a creek off of the Potomac River has set a state record for the largest catch of a snakehead fish.

Michael Meade, of Upper Marlboro, used a bow and arrow to pull in a 17.49-pound northern snakehead along the marshes of Mattawoman Creek on Oct. 16.

"It was about 10:30 at night when I brought it onboard, and it was the biggest snakehead I had ever seen," Meade said. "When I got home, I stepped on a bathroom scale with the fish, and it was over 17 pounds. So, I put it in a bucket of ice water and went looking for a certified scale."

The weight of the fish was confirmed on a Maryland Department of Agriculture-certified digital scale at a market store in Marbury. A Natural Resources Fisheries biologist confirmed the species of the fish and the record catch was certified.

Meade's fish surpasses the record set back in August where a fisherman also caught a 17-pound northern snakehead in Mattawoman Creek.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages the catch of northern snakeheads as this invasive fish species preys on native fish in the waterways in our area.

Fishing records are normally awarded when they are caught by rod and reel, but Maryland makes an exception for any recreational method for three invasive fish species: northern snakehead, blue catfish and flathead catfish.

So what will Meade do with his huge catch?

"I will bake the filets with pepper and butter, enough for two or three meals, I expect," he said.