Regulations
Snakehead Regulations by State: What You Must Know Before You Fish
Snakehead regulations exist to stop the spread of an invasive species — and they change often. The near-universal rule across states where snakehead are established: do not release them alive. Most states require you to kill your catch and prohibit possessing or transporting live snakehead.
Start here
We keep a page for each state with a plain-English summary and a link to the official agency:
- Maryland — the heart of the fishery; harvest encouraged.
- Virginia — no live transport; kill and keep.
- DC / Potomac — multi-jurisdiction tidal water.
- Pennsylvania — report your catch to PFBC.
- Florida — bullseye snakehead in the SE canals.
- Arkansas, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and more.
Important: These summaries are for convenience only and can go out of date. Fishing, possession, transport and consumption rules vary and change — always verify the current regulations with your official state wildlife agency before you fish.
Heads up: Snakehead rules change often and vary by state — always confirm current regulations with your official state wildlife agency before fishing, transporting, possessing, or consuming.
