Too many anglers do not identify burbot, bowfin, and snakeheads properly. At first glance, they appear the same. There are differences in each species. Knowing the differences is needed. In some areas releasing or keeping one fish is illegal.
People that have fished for a bit of time likely know of invasive species like the snakehead. They do not know that burbot look similar and are protected in some places. The bowfin is another look-a-like species. It is native to North America along with burbots.
Identify a Bowfin
A bowfin has an olive green color. Darker mottling along the sides is slight compared to the other species. There is a black spot near the caudal fin (tail). The spot is on males and juveniles and has a yellow or orange outline. The fins are rounded, lacking any sharp features.
The pelvic and dorsal fins are short. The pelvic fins are farther back at about the midpoint. The dorsal fin extends over one-half the body length. In the mouth, the fish has dozens of conical teeth.
Identify a Burbot
Burbot has mottled skin also. The color ranges from black to gray to green and sometimes yellow. Burbot almost appears scaleless. The scales are small on the fish. The dorsal fins are split with a short section ahead of the long section.
The anal fin is long starting near the mid-point and extending to near the tail. The pelvic fins are ahead of the pectoral fins and are sharply pointed. The tail fin is round. A soft bard is located under the lower jaw.
These fish tend to fight less than bowfin or snakeheads. They do make excellent table fare being from the cod family.
Snakeheads
The snakehead has mottled skin and more defined changes in color. They appear as bars or stripes. The color of the fish is brown in varying shades. The scales are well-defined.
The dorsal fin is long and uninterrupted. The anal fin is long also. Pelvic fins are slightly behind the pectoral fins. This feature is distinct between each of the 3 species. This fish has dagger-like teeth. It can survive for extended periods out of the water.
Conclusions
Although similar in appearance the fish are different. The position and shape of the pelvic fins vary. Plus the coloring and mottled effect differ in each species. Take a few minutes to learn the law on the catch and release of each fish. Take the time to identify burbot, bowfin, and snakeheads properly.
These fish lack the barbels or whiskers found on catfish. There are other fish with barbels and a similar body shape in Europe. It is called a barbel.
