I had friends catch multiples of them using similar tactics to what I used in the video, but I wasn’t lucky enough to get one. But I’ll definitely settle with a Scamp til next year!

Thanks!! Always awesome scenery at places like this

Snakeheads have invaded so many water ways here in the eastern U.S that it’s becoming increasingly more common to find Snakeheads in places that are home to native Bowfin. It’s important for anglers to know the difference to avoid causing any harm to native populations of Bowfin.

In the late summer months the water around here usually peaks around 75 degrees which is warm enough to sustain these fish that are used to a warmer climate. It’s not until October that temperatures begin to fall and the fish that aren’t strong enough to form a migratory school either get eaten or die off from colder temperatures in the fall. These fish get swept up in the Gulf Stream as eggs or larval stage fish which is how they end up this far north.

Thanks! They sure are ferocious even at small sizes. I wouldn’t put it past them to feed on other tropicals if they grow large enough to do so.

Thanks! I use Owner Half Moon Tanago hooks for the majority of my micro catches. The Gamakatzu Ultimate Tanago hooks work well too for the extremely tiny stuff. I like documenting my catches on the GoPro since a majority of the time I fish by myself most of the time it helps me feel not so lonely 😂

Preeesh 😈

I would say it’s still possible to get them. Water hasn’t cooled off quite yet. Probably the first week of October most tropicals will be on their way out. If you plan on looking for some I would go at low tide and make sure winds aren’t too rough. That way you have good visibility!

@@TheVilleOutdoors oh okay thank you i’ve been wanting to get some new types of fish tired of catching the same types always lol

Thanks!! It will likely go down as the best outing of my career 😅 all that in just under 4 hours.

@@TheVilleOutdoors I'm jealous

@@brianshea8911Sorry! 😅

I’m not inclined to share the spot on here, but if you have instagram you may DM me @thevilleoutdoors.yt or message me on Facebook @ Nathan Billhime

Thank you!!!

You make a fair point, and the reason behind my bait selection is that the native Bowfin is more accustomed to feeding in the native Bluegill. Bluegill also have a more slim profile that is easier for the bowfin to eat as cutbait, compared to the more bulky Warmouth. Although my plan didn’t end up working, that was at least my thought process. Also this population of Warmouth isn’t confined to the lake. As you see in the video the Warmouth are also populating the creek that connects to the lake which eventually leads to the Delaware River. When you have an invasive species in an open system, taking a handful of Warmouth out of that system isn’t going to make the problem any lesser, or greater than what it currently is. If the Warmouth were confined to the lake it would make more sense to remove them.

You make a fair point, and the reason behind my bait selection is that the native Bowfin is more accustomed to feeding in the native Bluegill. Bluegill also have a more slim profile that is easier for the bowfin to eat as cutbait, compared to the more bulky Warmouth. Although my plan didn’t end up working, that was at least my thought process. Also this population of Warmouth isn’t confined to the lake. As you see in the video the Warmouth are also populating the creek that connects to the lake which eventually leads to the Delaware River. When you have an invasive species in an open system, taking a handful of Warmouth out of that system isn’t going to make the problem any lesser, or greater than what it currently is. If the Warmouth were confined to the lake it would make more sense to remove them.

I’ve been to that spot before. It’s been hit or miss for me, but I know people who have gotten cool stuff there

Maybe and maybe not lol. The purpose of me not saying the spot is to keep it anonymous as best I can. Reason being certain people collect the tropical strays to sell them in the aquarium trade. So I’m trying to protect from that happening as best I can.

Thank you! I’ll be keeping it up all year hopefully… but just realized my title didn’t save on the opening slide.. oops 🤦‍♂️

Thanks! Saltwater microfishing is one of my favorite ways to fish. I’m just not too good at it yet 😅

Thanks!!

That’s funny! A true win win. Removing an invasive species while feeding the pets!

This video was shot at Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria Island Florida

Do me a favor and Google “How many Bowfin species are there?” One of the first results is Britannica.com which clearly states there are at least 2 separate species of Bowfin and up to 4 species are possible, but genetic work hasn’t been fully completed to confirm any more than two species for now. Currently there is Eyetail Bowfin (Amia ocellicauda) and Ruddy Bowfin (Amia Calva)

@@TheVilleOutdoors nope you don’t know Jack 💩

@@connortank3324 If you would like to believe there is one species of Bowfin, that is fine. It still won’t change the scientific work that has been done to prove otherwise.

It’s called the Newport River Pier & Ramp. It’s right across the bridge from Morehead City.

Thanks Dale!

I’ve fished the Perkiomen a good number of times. Mostly by the mouth where it dumps into the Schuylkill in Phoenixville. I fished a few spots on the Perkiomen towards Harleysville as well!

Danggg that sucks man! Wishing you a quick and speedy recovery! And some tight lines when you get back out there! 🤙

@@TheVilleOutdoors you too catch some tanks

Thanks! They’re everywhere here in my creeks in Southeast Pa. I catch Fallfish pretty much every time I trout fish in the spring and fall. My biggest being around 15inches

The Moonfish I was probably most excited for. Never expected that to show up!

@@TheVilleOutdoors It was a very cool looking fish for sure, great catch!

@@differentfins Thank you!

The uncommon tropical visitors get washed up through the Gulf Stream as larvae or eggs so they start out in the ocean and get blown inshore through inlets where these tropical visitors can find refuge in the bay where there is more shelter and slower currents. So it would be best to start looking for areas behind openings to the ocean that connect to the bay. Any place with decent structure should have a tropical visitor or two although some are much more common than others.

@@TheVilleOutdoors thank you i’ll be sure to try again soon it was fun seeing if i could get any! i was able to get a crevalle jack yesterday idk if that’s considered tropical or not or rare. the bluefish kept messing up my sabina and stealing hooks tho! i just got some of those tiny hooks i have to see some vids on how to tie them i didnt realize how tiny they were gonna be😂

@@mmfish Crevalle Jacks are considered tropics for this far North! They only get about a max size of 4 inches before the water gets too chilly and they go away. The tiny sabiki rigs are super helpful for catching those tiny ones that are more active during the day. If you found a spot with Crevalles there are likely other tropics possible there!

@@TheVilleOutdoors oh okay that’s good i got one then i think the bluefish there prob eat the other tropics lol they chased in every fish i reeled up mostly was catching spots and silver perch

@@mmfish Between the Bluefish, Sennet and crabs the tropics are definitely fighting to survive out there 😅

I’m not quite familiar with Atlanta Beach. Where is that beach located? If I look into it I would be able to recommend bait and gear for you.

Due to spot burning, I will not give the precise location of this spot. What I will say is that both Norrhern Snakehead and Eyetail Bowfin exist in marshes that stem from the Delaware River. A little work on Google maps and you should be able to find plenty of public access points that will give you a good shot at both species

Yup! This video was my first time encountering Enneacanthus. I have another video up that was posted shortly after this one where I got Bluespotted and I finished it up with Black-banded on an off-camera trip I made with my father. Pine Barrens is such a unique ecosystem. Definitely worth checking out if and when you have the time.

@@differentfins It’s one of my favorite things to do these days! So much diversity you might not find on the hunt for larger species!

@TheVilleOutdoors I wish I had the salt water option in Central Canada. I did catch some Atlantic silversides, black sea bass and scups last time I was in NYC. So many different fish but being connected to the worlds oceans you never know what may swim by.

@@differentfins That’s part of the excitement. No matter how slow the day may be going you never know what might swim by next!

Thank you! Saltwater micro-fishing can be done during the day or night depending on what species you are looking to catch. In my last video I fished a micro sabiki rig for species more active during the day, but the species targeted in this video tend to spook easier in the daylight which is why I take the after dark approach.

Anglers Emporium

As @fishwizard5964 suggested, I usually find mine on anglers emporium. The tenkara bum website has them as well, but they are usually out of stock, but worth a check there as well.

@@TheVilleOutdoors thanks for the advice anyways but you were right, tenkara bum was sold out and anglers emporium is too expensive with its shipping to canada

@@fishwizard5964 thanks for the advice

@@JoshuaHarvey7718 There’s a goon number of them available through various eBay sellers as well, but not sure how much the shipping would be. But that might be another option.

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed! 🤙

Crab indeed be vibing 🤙

With the amount food available for them in the waters down there I would expect them to be a little more picky with their diet. I would assume there are other fish species and even turtles that would pick up the cut bait before a bowfin got to it.

Quite the unexpected one too! I thought a couple of the jacks I caught looked a bit different from Crevalle and sure enough they were!

🔥 🔥 🔥

No problem! Happy to hear my video was found helpful!

I have heard that they are good eating! Despite what I said about “disposing” of the snakehead in the video. I released this fish back to the water after quick photographs. I typically don’t eat fish that I catch unless I know it will not survive upon release

Despite what I said in the video I did release this Snakehead. I’m a catch and release angler by heart and when targeting this species I was torn between what side of the argument to be on. I figured it would be better to say the fish was disposed of, rather than released. But this fish was indeed released

In this video I am using a Ugly Stik Elite 6’ medium light rod and that’s paired with a Shimano Sedona 2500 HG Reel. It’s not a true ultralight by some fisherman’s standards, but it does me well for multi-species creek fishing and stocked trout fishing earlier in the spring.

Thank you! And happy to help! I agree the hybrids can be a bit confusing, but with knowledge of defining features of each of the common species in the area you can usually get a good idea of what species hybridized.

That’s sad to hear. I caught my lifer Snakehead on my first cast there and had thought about returning next spring to try for more, but I’d rather not deal with any Law Enforcement when I don’t need too. I’ve never heard of Shrimp being used for Bowfin! That’s pretty cool

Thank you! All the relatives of the Rock Bass are cool in their own right, but Shadow Bass is my favorite. Hopefully I encounter one some day!