If You Catch This Fish in Illinois or Wisconsin, Kill It Immediately

If you're planning to spend time fishing in Illinois or Wisconsin this summer, there's one catch you definitely don't want to throw back.

Fishing Season

For many people, summertime in Illinois and Wisconsin is spent by, in, or on the water.

Some people prefer to spend their time on the water boating, skiing, tubing, etc., while many others prefer to spend it fishing.

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Every time my family visits our cabin in Wisconsin, my husband and kids spend a good chunk of time fishing from the beach. The fish they catch are always released back into the water, but an exception will need to be made if they reel one of these nasty things in:

Landwalking

The fish pictured above is a Northern Snakehead, but many people know it by a much creepier nickname: "Frankenfish."

Northern Snakeheads are native to Eastern Asia, but they are being spotted in Midwest waters more frequently every year, and that is a very bad thing.

Why are Northern Snakehead Fish Dangerous?

The biggest problem with Northern Snakeheads is that they are invasive and aggressive predators that eat everything from smaller fish to frogs, birds, even their own young!

These fish have no known predators, carry parasites, and are a dangerous threat to native species in Illinois and Wisconsin waters, but do you know what's even worse?

Northern Snakeheads can 'walk' and breathe on land for up to four days, and they have TEETH!

Snakehead Fish Found In Lake Michigan

How to Spot a Northern Snakehead

Avid fishermen may notice that Northern Snakeheads look very similar to Bowfin fish that are native to this area... so, how do you spot one?

Here are some differences to look for:

Northern Snakehead females lay tens of thousands of eggs every spawning season, so it is imperative that these fish are killed immediately if you catch or spot one in Illinois and Wisconsin.

What to Do If You Catch a Northern Snakehead

The most important things to remember when you catch a Northern Snakehead are:

• Do NOT release it back into the water.
• Do NOT leave it on the beach and expect it to die. (It will just 'walk' right back into the water)

Wildlife officials say the best way to kill a Northern Snakehead is to place it on ice or freeze it for an extended period time.

While this may sound harsh, a Northern Snakehead is one fish that should never get a second chance. We all need to work together to stop this invasive "Frankenfish" and help protect Illinois and Wisconsin lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds for future generations.