Snakehead fish have proliferated across waterways from New York to Florida, prompting Maryland wildlife officials to promote high-powered compound bows as an effective control method. These invasive predators, capable of surviving out of water for days, threaten native species and local fisheries.

Maryland offers reward tags worth $200 for blue-tagged snakeheads and $10 for yellow tags, distributing $17,000 since 2022. The state has essentially abandoned eradication efforts, focusing instead on bow fishing to slow the expansion of these aggressive fish that can reach 20 pounds and lay up to 50,000 eggs annually.

Federal electrofishing removed 1,200 snakeheads between 2023-2025, but bow fishing shows more promise at pushing mortality toward 25%. Despite complaints about nighttime disturbances and accidental kills of protected species, the method remains the most effective tool against the invasive Frankenfish.