By GEORGE THWAITES
Times-News
It probably didn't seem a very big deal to Northeast Tennessee anglers when the Potomac watershed seemed to be the only affected area. But now it seems that the Volunteer State's fisheries could eventually be threatened by the invasion of this toothy, invasive exotic fish.
Tennessee recently became one of eight other states that are alarmed about the discovery of snakeheads in public waters.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Fisheries Division received a report on Dec. 20 that a fish looking suspiciously like a snakehead had been discovered by a fisherman in Poplar Tree Lake in the Meeman-Shelby State Park near Memphis.
Park Manager Steve Smith reported the discovery to the TWRA office in Nashville on Dec. 20. Off-duty Deputy Sherriff William Nelson found the dead fish floating in the lake on Dec. 12. Nelson, who earned his B.S. degree in biology, had learned about snakeheads in Maryland and Pennsylvania from reading news articles during the past year. The 17-inch floater he found seemed to fit the description.
"My first thought was that someone had probably caught a bowfin which slightly resembles a snakehead in appearance," said Bobby Wilson, TWRA assistant chief of fisheries. "But it became obvious that Smith was relatively familiar with the identity of a snakehead fish."
The specimen was sent to the University of Memphis, where Dr. Jack Grubaugh confirmed it was, indeed, a northern snakehead.
Snakeheads are native to China and Southeast Asia. The northern snakehead is a voracious predator with very few enemies and can decimate native fish populations. They can grow up to nearly 4 feet in length.
Snakeheads can breathe air and can survive for up to four days out of water. They can also travel over land to new bodies of water by wriggling their bodies over the ground. This obviously contributes to the species' rapid spread, once a reproducing population is established.
Snakeheads are sold in the U.S. both as food in Asian markets and as pets. They are illegal to possess or transport in Tennessee and are listed as an "injurious to the environment" species.
Wilson says that the next step will be to determine if this is an isolated case or if there are more fish in Poplar Tree Lake. Electrofishing samples will be conducted in the lake soon and will continue through the Spring to look for other adult fish or evidence of reproduction.
"I hope that this was a case where this fish was someone's pet and it outgrew its tank and rather than killing it, they decided to let it go," Wilson said. "Aquatic pet owners need to know that not only releasing fish and other exotic aquatic animals into the wild is illegal, it can also be detrimental to native fish populations as well."
Green wins January pheasant tournament
Buck Green of Jonesborough and his pointer, Ozzie, won the the East Tennessee Sportsmen Federation's Bird Hunting Tournament Trial for January.
Green competed with 34 fellow hunters from East Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, all of whom gunned for ringneck pheasant at this month's event at Pigeon Creek Hunting Preserve in Greene County.
Green's brother, Mike Green of Bristol and Grady Hensley, also of Bristol, tied for second in the event. Ben Adams of Wytheville, Va. finished fourth.
The tournaments are held the first Saturday of each month through March. The Bird Hunter of the Year will be crowned at the Sportsmen of the Year Banquet in Kingsport.
For more information or to enter call Paul Brown at (423) 638-7250.
National Bass Circuit set to begin 2006 season
The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division will kick off its 2006 season Feb. 19 on Cherokee Lake.
The NBC pays back one in every five teams with $1,800 for first place based on 50 teams. The NBC will offer Point Champion Incentives and Top Gun Tournament for top teams.
The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division offers refreshments to the anglers at each tournament along with professionally run and organized weigh-ins. The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division tournaments are held on Cherokee and Douglas Lakes.
With each $35.00 NBC membership - required to enter all events - anglers will receive a free NBC T Shirt sponsored by Morristown Ford, a free AnglersChannel.com magazine, a free membership to AnglersChannel.com, as well as a free NBC decal and membership card.
For more information, please contact Nathan Mountain at (423) 726-0240 or (865) 767-2869.
Times-News
It probably didn't seem a very big deal to Northeast Tennessee anglers when the Potomac watershed seemed to be the only affected area. But now it seems that the Volunteer State's fisheries could eventually be threatened by the invasion of this toothy, invasive exotic fish.
Tennessee recently became one of eight other states that are alarmed about the discovery of snakeheads in public waters.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Fisheries Division received a report on Dec. 20 that a fish looking suspiciously like a snakehead had been discovered by a fisherman in Poplar Tree Lake in the Meeman-Shelby State Park near Memphis.
Park Manager Steve Smith reported the discovery to the TWRA office in Nashville on Dec. 20. Off-duty Deputy Sherriff William Nelson found the dead fish floating in the lake on Dec. 12. Nelson, who earned his B.S. degree in biology, had learned about snakeheads in Maryland and Pennsylvania from reading news articles during the past year. The 17-inch floater he found seemed to fit the description.
"My first thought was that someone had probably caught a bowfin which slightly resembles a snakehead in appearance," said Bobby Wilson, TWRA assistant chief of fisheries. "But it became obvious that Smith was relatively familiar with the identity of a snakehead fish."
The specimen was sent to the University of Memphis, where Dr. Jack Grubaugh confirmed it was, indeed, a northern snakehead.
Snakeheads are native to China and Southeast Asia. The northern snakehead is a voracious predator with very few enemies and can decimate native fish populations. They can grow up to nearly 4 feet in length.
Snakeheads can breathe air and can survive for up to four days out of water. They can also travel over land to new bodies of water by wriggling their bodies over the ground. This obviously contributes to the species' rapid spread, once a reproducing population is established.
Snakeheads are sold in the U.S. both as food in Asian markets and as pets. They are illegal to possess or transport in Tennessee and are listed as an "injurious to the environment" species.
Wilson says that the next step will be to determine if this is an isolated case or if there are more fish in Poplar Tree Lake. Electrofishing samples will be conducted in the lake soon and will continue through the Spring to look for other adult fish or evidence of reproduction.
"I hope that this was a case where this fish was someone's pet and it outgrew its tank and rather than killing it, they decided to let it go," Wilson said. "Aquatic pet owners need to know that not only releasing fish and other exotic aquatic animals into the wild is illegal, it can also be detrimental to native fish populations as well."
Green wins January pheasant tournament
Buck Green of Jonesborough and his pointer, Ozzie, won the the East Tennessee Sportsmen Federation's Bird Hunting Tournament Trial for January.
Green competed with 34 fellow hunters from East Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, all of whom gunned for ringneck pheasant at this month's event at Pigeon Creek Hunting Preserve in Greene County.
Green's brother, Mike Green of Bristol and Grady Hensley, also of Bristol, tied for second in the event. Ben Adams of Wytheville, Va. finished fourth.
The tournaments are held the first Saturday of each month through March. The Bird Hunter of the Year will be crowned at the Sportsmen of the Year Banquet in Kingsport.
For more information or to enter call Paul Brown at (423) 638-7250.
National Bass Circuit set to begin 2006 season
The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division will kick off its 2006 season Feb. 19 on Cherokee Lake.
The NBC pays back one in every five teams with $1,800 for first place based on 50 teams. The NBC will offer Point Champion Incentives and Top Gun Tournament for top teams.
The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division offers refreshments to the anglers at each tournament along with professionally run and organized weigh-ins. The National Bass Circuit East Tennessee Division tournaments are held on Cherokee and Douglas Lakes.
With each $35.00 NBC membership - required to enter all events - anglers will receive a free NBC T Shirt sponsored by Morristown Ford, a free AnglersChannel.com magazine, a free membership to AnglersChannel.com, as well as a free NBC decal and membership card.
For more information, please contact Nathan Mountain at (423) 726-0240 or (865) 767-2869.