If You Catch This Fish In Wisconsin Waters, Kill It Immediately

It's a great time of the year to fish but there's one fish you're asked to kill right away.

Not all fish have the gift of beauty. Some of them look like a drunk dinosaur. An ugly fish is one thing, but an ugly fish that's also dangerous is a problem.

A few weeks ago, there was yet another sighting of a certain fish in Missouri and now the concern is that they are headed upriver to Illinois, possibly Iowa and Wisconsin too. They have been spotted in Wisconsin some years prior.

The Fish To Lookout For

That skin pattern alone should make you realize he's a problem. That's a Northern Snakehead Fish.

According to the USGS, they like to hangout in freshwater, including rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes.

They're a problem because they're invasive (native to China and Malaysia), preying on native fish and competing for resources. They can tolerate a lot of different water temperatures. If you catch one, you can't just throw it on the shore to die. These suckers can live 4 days on land.

In Wisconsin, years ago it was found in the Rock River, recently in Missouri, and now there's concern it's headed up the Mississippi River.

You Caught One. Now What?

You need to make sure it's a Northern Snakehead. They do kinda look like some other fish that are legit native to Wisconsin. But if you do snag a snakehead, there are 3 things you gotta do if you catch one, from USGS:

• Kill it by freezing it or putting it on ice for a long time
• Take a picture of it so it can be positively identified as a snakehead
• Contact your nearest fish & game agency (or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service office) and let them know. They're trying to track and control them since they're invasive.

It Could Be Your Dinner

The Northern Snakehead fish won't hurt you but it will hurt a lot of native fish species if you catch it and don't kill it. If you want, you can eat the ugly thing. The taste has been compared to tilapia. Outdoor Life says snakehead is good if you marinate it or heavily season it. Just like normal fish.