Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, in Cooperation with the Maryland DNR, Calls Attention to Invasive Species
The Northern Snakehead fish has received much publicity since it’s first invasion of a community pond in central Maryland. Now, the predatory, nonnative Snakehead has been found in the Potomac River where last year, 20 were caught.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World-Hanover has joined with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in an effort to draw public attention to all invasive species by using the northern snakehead as a ‘poster child’.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will be offering a ‘Snakehead Reward’ Gift Card to anglers catching a snakehead in Maryland waters or waters of the Potomac watershed. The fish must be caught on hook and line with legal fishing methods by a licensed angler and be reported to Maryland Department of Natural Resources or another resource management agency.
New for 2005: The angler is not required to bring the actual snakehead fish into Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The fish must be turned into the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.
If the fish is caught in Maryland, anglers are asked to call DNR at 410-260-8320, or toll-free at 1-877-520-8DNR, ext. 8320. Anglers may also call U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 410-573-4506 for more information.
Anglers should follow the DNR guidelines for immediately killing the fish. The angler should bring the verification from the agency that the fish has been reported and turned over to the agency to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World at 7000 Arundel Mills Circle (Exit 10A off Route 100 at Route I-295) in Hanover, Maryland.
The ‘Snakehead Reward’ Program runs from March 1 through October 31, 2005.
Bass Pro Shops ‘Snakehead Reward’ Gift Card amounts are as follows:
$10 for Snakeheads under 12 inches
$25 for Snakeheads 13 to 24 inches
$50 for Snakeheads over 24 inches
In addition, anglers will receive a ‘Snakehead Wrangler’ cap from the
Maryland DNR Fisheries Service.
For More information, contact: Allan Ellis at Bass Pro Shops, 410-689-2500 ext. 5217 or e-mail [email protected] or Megan Evans at MD DNR, 410-260-8016 office, 443-280-2599 cell or [email protected].
By: Allan Ellis, Dir Communications, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
