At a Glance
- The first northern snakehead in Mississippi was discovered in 2017.
- The fish are known for their creepy appearance and ability to survive on land.
- They are considered an invasive species.
An invasive species some have dubbed "Frankenfish" or "Fishzilla" is becoming more common in Mississippi waterways, according to the same fishermen who found the first northern snakehead fish in the state three years ago.
"I've seen dozens," fisherman Brad Baugh recently told the Clarion Ledger. "Everything is spawning now so they're in shallow water ... As the river has fallen and the water has receded, we're fishing a couple of miles from where we were and we're still seeing them. I saw six the other night and I killed two of them. That tells me there's a lot. They're obviously getting a foothold, so there's going to be more of them."
Baugh and fellow fishermen Bubba Steadman found the first known northern snakehead in Mississippi in 2017, according to the newspaper. Baugh and Steadman are bowfishers, meaning they fish with a bow and arrow.
"This year we've shot six," Baugh said.
(WATCH: Bizarre Fish That Can Breathe Air, Survive on Land Found in GA)
The northern snakehead earned its nickname from its creepy appearance and unique ability to survive on land. It's considered an invasive species due its potential to compete with native species for food and habitat.
The fish has been found in at least 14 states in the U.S., and officials have told people to shoot it on sight.
Snakehead fish often generate a lot of media attention when they are caught, especially the larger ones which can grow up to nearly three feet long, according to the Mississippi State University Extension. They have rows of tiny, sharp teeth and can go dormant on land in order to survive. They can also move short distances when out of the water.
The northern snakehead fish's story is similar to that of other invasive fish like carp. They were brought to the U.S. from their native Asia as food sources or aquarium pets, and then released into the wild, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. They were declared an "injurious species" in 2002.
Experts aren't as concerned about the fish these days, Larry Pugh, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Fisheries chief of staff, told the Clarion Ledger.
"A snakehead report doesn't get our attention like it did," Pugh said. "They don't seem to be having a negative impact. The impacts are not as bad as we initially thought."
Still, Pugh says possessing or transporting the fish is illegal and eradication is the goal.
"Our message is if you catch one, kill it," Pugh said.
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