Suspected Northern Snakehead fish caught in Ontario

Suspected Northern Snakehead fish caught in Ontario

By Natalie Johnson

Source: CTV.ca

8/8/2010

There are fears a potential threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem has found its way into Canadian waters, after an Ontario woman landed what may be a vicious, invasive species of fish.

When lifelong fisherwoman Amy Merry decided to try a new fishing spot on the Welland Canal that links Lakes Erie and Ontario last weekend, she didn't expect to reel in a voracious foreign invader.

But when Merry finally landed her big catch, it was unlike anything she'd ever seen before.

"As I kept reeling it in, it would take off and pull the line back out. I thought it was going to snap the line or even the pole," Merry told CTV.

"It actually jumped out of the water and landed at me."

Merry canvassed other local fishermen before turning to the Internet for guidance. After a little digging, she decided that her 21-inch catch had to be a Northern Snakehead.