American Snakehead Customs

Our right hand man, Vinny Conwell has been a bit of a big deal on Long Island lately. Get it Vinny!😁✌️

🚨Are snakeheads expanding their presence in the Empire State? It would seem that way, if this angler's catch is any indication.

On May 21st, 2026, Vinny Conwell’s dreams came true as he was able to put his hands on what is considered an invasive unicorn in New York State. He set the hook into something prehistoric-looking, a northern snakehead (Channa argus).

When word started spreading about a snakehead being caught in Lily Pond near Lake Ronkonkoma, it immediately grabbed the attention of local anglers. The reactions ranged from disbelief to concern. For many fishermen on Long Island, snakeheads are something you hear about in Maryland, Virginia, or the Potomac River system — not something you expect to see in a small pond connected to one of Long Island’s most recognizable freshwater fisheries and its biggest lake.

But whether anglers like it or not, the northern snakehead is becoming part of the conversation in New York State waters. For fishermen who spend countless hours chasing bass, pickerel, and panfish, the idea of another aggressive predator entering local ecosystems raises a lot of questions. How did it get there? Can they survive here? And most importantly, what does it mean for the future?

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✍️: Nick Petrou