Posted on 05/31/2012 8:13:01 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
If Maryland has its way, an invasive enemy could become a nontraditional entree.
Ten years after the northern snakehead was first caught in a local pond, the animal once dubbed “Frankenfish” has established a habitat and lived up to its reputation as an adaptable, aggressive and all-consuming predator.
But unlike the protections afforded to the other mascots of Maryland’s waterways, the sacred blue crab and the beloved rockfish, environmental officials are encouraging area anglers to kill and cook as many of the scaly monsters as possible — a prospect local chefs say is surprisingly palatable.
“The big difference between snakehead and regular fish is, it’s very dense and very clean tasting,” said Baltimore chef Chad Wells. “It tastes more like an ocean fish would taste. It’s very mild. You grill it up like a piece of chicken, but it’s flaky like a fish.”
On Saturday, Smallwood State Park in Marbury, Md., plays host to a snakehead-fishing festival — a combination tournament and cookout that organizers hope can make a dent in the snakehead population.
What’s on the menu? Fresh-caught Frankenfish, of course.
“The goal of this is to eat the last fish, eat the last bite,” said Mr. Wells, who is set to make seviche from the fish on Saturday. “We’re all there for the same reason, to try to protect that watershed. This is something we can feel good about killing.”
Potomac Snakehead Tournament director Austin Murphy called Saturday’s event “a small tournament with a huge environmental impact.”
“We’re looking to harvest at least 800 pounds of snakeheads out of the water,” he said. “That’s the minimum goal.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
It aint just the Chinese. West Nile virus started out in DC, cough cough, coincidentally.
New sport on the Redneck channel.
Noodling for Snakehead.
Is the main characters name Stub’s?
I understand that the problem is that they are rather bony, no?
I was raised on lake perch, walleye, and pickerel. And then learned to love bass. I think Snake heads are comparable to any of these.
Pretty rough storms there. How did this go or any info about it? thx.
I must say, this is the first time someone has 'stumped' me on providing an answer.
I meant that to the OP. Error on my part.
I booked a fishing trip in the Everglades last year and the Outfitters put me in a five star hotel. The barmaid found out i was a fisherman and got the cook, who was Chinese. He said if I caught any snakeheads to bring them to him. That next night I was walking through the hotel lobby with a wet burlap squirming bag. He retrieved them from me, all smiles. I got a pitcher of beer and went to my room. A while later there was a knock on my door and it was room service with a four course meal that had snakehead fish as the main course. All free from the cook.
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