What kind of fish is this?

[cotton]

Went fishing on a lake today and my buddy caught this.. We have no idea what kind of fish it is and not thinking at the moment we let it go. It had really sharp teeth and also was very aggressive. Thanks

[Tavery5]

kinda looks like a snakehead

[bamabassman]

snakehead for sure. KILL IT!!! KILL EM ALL COTTON!!!!

[nofearengineer]

Was there a continuous fin along the bottom, Cotton? Or just normal fins like other fish? If it was one continuous fin, it's a snakehead. Otherwise, it's a bowfin. At first glance, I'd say Bowfin.

[MississippiBoy]

I'm with Bryce...I believe it's a bowfin, too.
I think it's easy for us to jump to conclusions and immediately think it's a snakehead, because we've all had the "snakehead invasion" drilled into us...

[Bryan]

It is a bowfin.

[Captmikestarrett]

Cypress trout..

Capt Mike

[riverfisher]

That there is a Bowfin not a Snake Head. What lure did it hit the one below mangled a spinnerbait? I didn't wanna touch the thing so my uncle scouped it up for the photo. Mean son of a B, I though I had a monster bass on the line never saw one up close before. Nasty sucker defenately a fun fight!!

[Embrey]

+1...bowfin(dogfish)

[Bassboss]

I've gotta agree with no fear and the others, looks more like a bowfin to me.. no doubt.

Haha, and yeah, I agree with river fisher, one of them thing RECKED a terminator spinnerbait of mine.

[MallenManson]

Bowfin/dogfish are incredibly stupid, but serious fighters. I've caught a couple. Both times in heavy bass populated lakes. I was seriously dissapointed when i realized they were'nt monster bass!

[3dkicker]

Did ya lip him????? That's a bowfin. Caught enough snakeheads by now to know the difference. Still a lot of fun to catch. And they do wreck baits. Biggest I've seen is 14lbs and biggest I've caught is around 6 lbs.

[BigBurlyBass]

My dad caught a 9 pounder before bowfin before (dogfish) what me and him call them, but, anyways it is a bowfin not a snake head

[WaffleJaw]

Definitely a bowfin...We have em in Lake Ray Hubbard by my house...My buddy pulled this one out a few years ago...He didnt know either.
I told him it was either a bluegill or a water moccasin..Cause I often get the two confused

[Tavery5]

Found this on another site, the two look similar but when you see them side by side, it makes it a little easier to tell the difference.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by Tavery5

Found this on another site, the two look similar but when you see them side by side, it makes it a little easier to tell the difference.

Good post Tavery. A few weeks back I had to send a text to several members here with a pic of a Bowfin in an aquarium at Bass Pro and ask if it was a Snakehead. We don't have either one around here that I am aware of and I didn't really know the difference. But I know enough about snakeheads that I was wondering why in the world they would throw one in the same tank as a bunch of other fish lol. Now I will know the difference.

[lilmule]

Bowfin,snakehead is so named because of head shape

[Mac2]

Friends at the neighboring cottage in Michigan caught a bowfin and after checking it out threw it in their backyard. Three days later it died.

[bamabassman]

either way.........it's an UGLY fish, lol. kill it. hahahaha.

[nofearengineer]

I'm going to say this, and I really don't care whose toes I step on.

Anyone who kills a Bowfin out of willful ignorance, or just for your amusement...you're a complete idiot and you don't deserve the fellowship of other true anglers.

[bamabassman]

BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! BRYCE,BRYCE..I WAS JUST KIDDING MAN. i have never even SEEN a bowfish in person. relax man.......the only thing i truly hate as far as fish goes is gator head gars. THEY TEAR UP MY LINE EVERYTIME ICATCH ONE. i understand the bowfish thing. but i never even seen one let alone catch one. it's cool man.




i ain't mad either ok?

[cotton]

Thanks for the help guys i appreciate it

[nofearengineer]

I'm not mad, Bama. I just hate it when ignorant behavior is reveled in.

Bowfin aren't "stupid" any more than any other fish is. Ironically, they're probably smarter than most fish. They are actually incredible parents. They defend their school of fry better than any soccer mom. Fishermen have been bitten on the leg by Dad while wading too close to the swarm of young Bowfin.

I just find it hypocritical and stupid that bass fishermen by the thousands kill them just for being ugly and inedible (which isn't even true). And they do it in such cruel ways, such as leaving them to slowly suffocate on the bank for days.

Bowfin fight twice as hard as a bass, and most bass fishermen these days won't eat bass anyway...so what's the difference? Ignorance....that's the difference.

[lilmule]

The bowfin is a prehistoric fish been around a very long time,it like gar, sturgeon,paddlefish fill a niche in our eco system.
Gar also bed in bays here about same time as bass,I lose some frogs to them as they slash at baits a lot,yet dont get discouraged about it,I make a game out of it try to land the largest I can,they are released unharmed.(caution dont lip or grab by bill)
Large drum also tend to take crankbaits and or rubber,its all part of fishing we try to catch just one species at times but mother nature isnt always cooperative.Doesnt mean we have to kick it overboard,just release it.
She counterbalances species with others so each their is a need for if native.
Non native snakeheads arnt needed or asian flying carp,but should be utilized in pet foods etc.,as they tend to take over the niche of a native fish.

Friend of mine Steve Huber caught this,I have yet to top it,but you cant tell me it didnt put up a fight,or that it shouldnt be released.

[Captmikestarrett]

I will defend the snakehead as a viable gamefish and meal.

Marylands newest gamefish is blast to try and catch.

Capt Mike