Northern snakehead Channa argus
9 of 10worth the trip today
Best right now at Choptank River, Maryland. Water is inside the 55–85° range northern snakehead like at 10 of the 10 spots with a live reading.
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About northern snakehead
Invasive air-breathing ambush predator from East Asia, established in parts of the mid-Atlantic and a few other regions; wildlife agencies encourage harvest. Explosive topwater strikes in lily pads and grass flats; hits frogs, bladed jigs, and swimbaits.
Around the Chesapeake. Established throughout the tidal Potomac and much of the Eastern Shore, and marketed as "Chesapeake Channa" to encourage harvest.
Channa argus, family Channidae.
Northern snakehead, spot by spot
All 10 spots with northern snakehead in season, scored for northern snakehead, best first.
61° water · 8 mph wind · outgoing tide
61° water · 6 mph wind · outgoing tide
62° water · 5 mph wind · outgoing tide
61° water · 3 mph wind · incoming tide
61° water · 3 mph wind · incoming tide
61° water · 3 mph wind · incoming tide
61° water · 3 mph wind · incoming tide
63° water · 3 mph wind · outgoing tide
The water they want
Northern snakehead feed from about 55° to 85°F and best near 75°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 10 of 10 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water55–85°F, best near 75°
- TideEither, as long as it moves
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 2–10 ft
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Season by state
The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia months are the Chesapeake-region season. Everywhere else it is carried over by water temperature: a month counts at a spot when its usual water is in the range that marks the mid-Atlantic season (59°F and warmer), from the spot’s own gauge where it has one and an estimate from air temperature where it doesn’t. Each state lists the months that hold at half or more of its spots. Where the water temperatures come from.
Keep or release
- Maryland tidalno daily limitMaryland tidal waters ("Chesapeake Channa"): no size limit, no daily limit, open all year. Illegal to possess alive.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Potomac River Fisheries Commissionno daily limitTidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): no size limit, no possession limit. It is unlawful to possess a live snakehead or to release one alive.Tidal potomac waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)no daily limitVirginia: no daily or length limit. You may keep a snakehead only if you kill it at once and notify DWR, by phone at (804) 367-2925 or through a regional office.Non tidal waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Northern snakehead are fished at spots in 2 states: Maryland, Virginia.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as northern snakehead, and how they’re doing today.
White perchMorone americana51 of 63 spots worth the trip
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Bites in 50–78° water
Blue catfishIctalurus furcatus37 of 54 spots worth the trip
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Largemouth bassMicropterus salmoides46 of 139 spots worth the trip
Best now at Miami Beach Park, MD96
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Striped bassMorone saxatilis126 of 159 spots worth the trip
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