This isn't what you expect to see when you're filleting a fish.
I was muskie fishing with my dad a few years ago when he hooked into a massive 52-inch fish. When we got it in the net, we could feel a 12-14 inch fish in its belly. It was actually protruding to the point it was hard to miss.
With that in mind, we know big fish eat big things. However, did you know big catfish eat full-grown adult cottonmouth snakes? The lady in this video sort of freaked out about it. But truth be told, I probably would've, too. After all, agkistrodon piscivorus, as it is known by its scientific name, is a highly venomous snake.
Watch the video below. We can't believe they caught this on video.
These two were so focused on those tasty fish fillets, they didn't notice when that snake plopped out! Had it been freshly eaten and still alive, that guy would have suffered a snakebite for sure. His hand passed right near the snake's snout without him realizing it! This video went wildly viral after it was first posted online. For obvious reasons.
Another common name for this species of aquatic snake is water moccasin. They're pit vipers and you'll usually find these guys mostly in the Southeastern United States, often in swampy, wet areas areas. Just like where this guy likely caught this fish.
You do have to be careful because they sometimes get mixed up with nonvenomous water snakes and copperheads. We're inclined to believe it was a cottonmouth based on the crossband, dark brown coloration and triangular head visible in the video. Fortunately they mostly eat small mammals and birds.
Thankfully, that big snake was dead. If it was still alive, I could only imagine would've come out of the gut pile ready for a fight.
You always see pictures floating around in the spring showing off bass or other fish with snakes sticking out of their gullets. Apparently, there is some legitimacy to it. These snakes are taking a big risk when they slither past the water's edge.
The cottonmouth's range extends south from South and North Carolina down to Florida. From there, their range extends across Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and into Texas. If you're fishing in these areas and get a big catch, watch its belly first and make sure there isn't something moving around in there!
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