This is a fish story. And it’s killer.

It’s about a thing known as “the monster fish,” “Frankenfish,” and “Fishzilla.” It is actually a member of the Channidae family of predatory fish native to Asia and Africa. When young, if feeds on plankton, insects and small mollusks. But it grows fast, and soon transforms into a 3-foot long killing machine. It has an oversized dorsal fin, a huge mouth and shiny teeth, which allows it to eat just about every other fish it finds. And here’s the really scary part: in addition to gills, it has a primitive lung, which allows it to stay out of standing water for as long as four days. During which time it can slither up to a quarter mile into new bodies of water and then, well…yikes.

It’s the Snakehead Fish. And it’s coming to a river near you. Because of its size and predatory nature, it is highly invasive and quickly takes over any ecosystem it gets into, killing and displacing all the native species. It was first seen in the U.S. in a pond in Maryland in 2002, and became permanently established in the Potomac by 2004. Since then it has been spotted in over a half dozen eastern states, California and Hawaii. In 2011, scientists were astounded when a Snakehead was found in the waters above Great Falls, Virginia, which was a barrier they previously assumed the Snakehead couldn’t cross.

And that’s when folks started freaking out. The EPA started enforcing a ban on the importation of Snakeheads. In 2011, a Brooklyn importer was busted trying to bring 350 Snakeheads into New York. In 2012, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources started the first bounty program on Snakeheads; today if you can show you’ve killed a Snakehead, they’ll give you a $200 gift card. In Virginia, they are little more subtle about it; they don’t require you to kill any Snakehead you catch, but they do highly recommend it. And “Stop the Snakehead” fishing derbies are seemingly popping up everywhere.

There is some good news, however. Snakeheads may be ugly, but they are also tasty. They are considered a delicacy in their native China. Fishermen and chefs are finding Snakehead has a mild, clean flavor that – dare we say it? – tastes like chicken. It is delicious grilled or fried and is reported to make a better plate of fish and chips than Cod. Even high end restaurants are starting to get into the Snakehead craze.

So now it’s time to do your part. Go reel one in, or order one off the menu. After all, this killer fish is killer tasty.

As executive Chef David Stein at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place in Washington, D.C., reminds us, “Snakeheads are dangerous, but chefs are more dangerous.”