From Its Native Asia To Florida -
The Tale Of The Cobra Snakehead (page 1 of 3)

By Jean-Francois Helias

Editors note: With the discovery of the exotic fish known as the Snakehead swimming in U.S. waters, fishing guide Jean-Francois Helias of Fishing Adventures Thailand weighs in with his thoughts on a fish that he is very familiar with, particularly the channa marulius, also known in Thailand as "cobra snakehead" or "great snakehead." This is the snakehead species found in Florida and can potentially grow to a weight of 25 lbs. The species found in Maryland is known as Channa argus, with an approximate maximum size of 33 inches and 15 lbs. Note also that Jean-Francois is a native French speaker, so despite my editing, some of his "frenchy english" still comes through ^_^

Jean-Francois Helias with a cobra or great snakehead

You better not mention the word "Cobra Snakehead" to a "crazy snakehead hunter" like myself! For over a decade now, I have been absolutely hooked on fishing with top water lures for all Snakehead species. And that Cobra Snakehead, above any other one of those matchless snakehead fish, is a very special friend in the tales of my Thai jungle fishing adventures. So it wouldn't be good to talk to me about that particular fish. I know I would be immediately thinking of having a break right now with my angling guiding service work to head straight away for the deep jungle of the Kanchanaburi province. A part of countries like Pakistan, India to China or Cambodia, it is in that precise area of Thailand, the land of smiles, that most of these rare serpent-heads can be found. At least I thought it was. Until I learned not so long ago from a fellow angler in the States that they inhabit Florida waters now too!

another great snakehead

A FISH BELIEVED ERRONEOUSLY TO HAVE A POISONOUS BITE
In any material published by the Thai Fisheries Department, the true English name given to the Channa marulius is in fact Great Snakehead. Because of its long and thin reptile body and its cobra-like head, the Thai people call that fish in their language "Pla Chon Gnu Hao" which means "fish-cobra". That is also why local anglers referring to that fish use the English name of "cobra snakehead" rather than "great snakehead".
I do too. I feel it is in a way much proper, not to mention it sounds to my ears much better. A funny thing about it is, because of its serpent-like head, most Thai people still erroneously believed the cobra snakehead has a poisonous bite.

Cobra snakehead face

engulfing a surface lure

The Channa marulius has red eyes and is gold-tinted brown to pale gray in younger fish while older fish are generally dark brown with large black blotches. The most distinctive marking is the black spot rimmed with orange near the base of the tail fin, known as an eye-spot or ocellus.

When doing research about that unique fish I found out that it was exhibited alive for the very first time at a fair in Bangkok in December 1933. It is said that fish has inspired various other beliefs and myths through the centuries. Mason, a western scientist studying these species in 1878, wrote how the Karen people of Burma regarded this fish with "superstitious awe" and refrained from eating them. Mason stated: Karens have a legend that they were formerly men, changed into fish for their sins, and the Karens of Tavoy say, "if people eat them, they will be transformed into lions".

A FISH SPECIES DISAPEARING STEP BY STEP FROM THAI WATERS
Because of its scarceness and its habitat, frequenting aquatic weeds or snagged territories such as submerged fallen trees close to the bank, the Cobra Snakehead could be compared in a way to his Malay counterpart, the Toman Bunga (Channa marulloides). the channa marulloides

The Cobra's Malay cousin, the "Toman Bunga"
Nowadays the population of that distinctive Thai serpent-head species is alas becoming quite rare in Thailand. Even though I combed every single inch of water with top water lures where I thought a Cobra Snakehead might be hidden, it took me many years myself to fulfill my dream of seeing at least one of them striking at one of my lures.

Its flesh, like its cousin the Striped Snakehead (Channa striata), is exquisite and very much sought after by local people living by the water.

Another tasty cousin, the striped snakehead
No one is caring at all how rare the Channa marulius is. Any specimen of any size is sadly considered as a potential "tom yum" (famous Thai soup cooked with lemon grass). Just after the spawn, it is known that it is not very difficult to make a female Cobra snakehead fish protecting its baby fry to bite at anything. What a pity for such an elusive predator fish to end that way!

Because of that kind of pressure from locals, it explains why nowadays most of the Channa marulius specimens caught by anglers are too often not exceeding the 3.00 Kg (6.6 lbs.) mark, even though it can reach a maximum weight close to 10.00 Kg (22 lbs.). The two biggest specimens ever caught with rod and line in Thailand that I have heard of were landed a decade ago. Both catches weighed 8.00 Kg (17.6 lbs.) and were hooked by two of my present team guides, Khun Sanghop and Khun Oot. One fish was caught at the Khao Laem dam, the other one at the Sri Nakharin dam. As for the current IGFA All Tackle world record for that species, it is held by my friend Gerard Cittadini (France) with a fish of 2.55 Kg (5.6 lbs.), caught in July 2001 at the Sri Nakharin dam.

-> Page 2 | Page 3->

back to ARTICLES

FISH WEAR
T-Shirts | Hats | Sweatshirts | Fish Pins

Subscribe to product updates/news!
This mailing list will only be used for the purpose
of distributing our newsletter (remember to check or uncheck
any options you wish to receive/not receive)