Maryland Offering Bounty for 'Frankenfish'

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland is offering fishermen prizes worth up to $200 for killing snakeheads.

The Department of Natural Resources says prizes in its second annual snakehead contest include a $200 gift card from Bass Pro Shops. Fishermen can also win a Maryland State Passport that allows entry to state parks and boat launches as well as discounts on boat rentals. Three winners will be picked in a random drawing in November. Fishermen can enter by submitting catch details and a photo of their dead snakehead online on the DNR Angler’s log.

DNR officials say the snakehead was illegally introduced into the Potomac and has since been found as far away as the Rhode and Nanticoke Rivers. The voracious predator can harm native fish populations.