Freshwater

Giant snakehead (toman)

Cabeza de serpiente gigante (toman)

Channa micropeltes

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

5–15 lb.

Depth

Surface to 20 ft, around weed and drowned timber.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A long, round-bodied fish with a flat, snake-like head, a huge mouth full of sharp teeth, and long dorsal and anal fins. Adults are dark blue-black to olive on the back with a white belly; young fish are bright orange with two black stripes.
Typical size: 5–15 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft and over 40 lb (20 kg).
Diet: Fish, frogs, crustaceans and even water birds.
Behavior: An air breather that comes to the surface to gulp air and can survive in warm, low-oxygen swamps. Pairs guard a big ball of bright-orange fry near the surface and will attack anything nearby — anglers target these "fry balls".

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam) and Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi). Lakes, reservoirs, slow rivers, canals and swamps of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo) and the Mekong; Lake Kenyir and Temenggor in Malaysia and Thai reservoirs are famous.
Habitat: Lakes, reservoirs, slow rivers, canals and swamps of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo) and the Mekong; Lake Kenyir and Temenggor in Malaysia and Thai reservoirs are famous.
Depth: Surface to 20 ft, around weed and drowned timber.
Fishing depth: Surface to 10 ft.
Best season: All year; the breeding season (when fry balls appear) varies by area.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, stable weather; the build-up before the wet season and calm, overcast days are excellent. Heavy rain muddies the water.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live small fish and frogs.
Best artificial lures: Weedless frogs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, spoons and surface walkers.
Tackle setup: 6½–7 ft heavy baitcasting rod.
Hook size: Strong 3/0–5/0 hooks or heavy trebles.
Line: 40–65 lb braid.
Leader: 60–80 lb monofilament or light wire — the teeth cut thin line.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Lures Pliers Lip grip

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Lakes, reservoirs, slow rivers, canals and swamps of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo) and the Mekong; Lake Kenyir and Temenggor in Malaysia and Thai reservoirs are famous.
Rig up: 6½–7 ft heavy baitcasting rod. 60–80 lb monofilament or light wire — the teeth cut thin line.
Pick your bait: Live small fish and frogs. Lures: Weedless frogs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, spoons and surface walkers.
Fish it: Look for fry balls or for snakeheads rolling to breathe, then cast a frog or buzzbait past them and bring it through. Set hard and pull the fish out of the weeds fast.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Fishing techniques: Look for fry balls or for snakeheads rolling to breathe, then cast a frog or buzzbait past them and bring it through. Set hard and pull the fish out of the weeds fast.
BigJoe's tip: Parents guarding fry are very aggressive but also very easy to overfish; take one photo and release them so the fry survive.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Firm white meat, popular in soups and curries in Southeast Asia.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Very sharp teeth and a strong bite — use long pliers and a lip grip, and never put fingers near the mouth. Parents guarding fry have been known to bite people in the water.
Regulations: Rules differ by country and reservoir; some lakes and national parks have limits or are catch-and-release. Moving live snakeheads is illegal in many places outside their native range (it's an invasive species risk). Rules differ by country: many lakes, reservoirs and fishing parks sell day permits, national parks and marine sanctuaries restrict or ban fishing, and some species are protected. Fish with licensed operators and check local rules.
Conservation: Release breeding pairs and fish guarding fry.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits