Pike Fish

The pike is a long-bodied and aggressive northern freshwater fish that lies in wait near the bottom of the water for its quarry to pass by so it can snatch them up in the blink of an eye. The term pike, which originated centuries ago before taxonomy was a true science, has sown quite a lot of confusion. All known pike fish belong to a single genus called Esox, but this genus also includes the closely related pickerel and the muskellunge. Together, they make up a broad category of pike-like fish.

Evolution and Origins

The pike is a member of the Esocidae family of fish, which can be traced back as far as the Mesozoic era, between 66 million and 252 million years ago.

The genus Esox‘s presence in North America and Eurasia dates to the Paleocene, 66 million to 56 million years ago.

The earliest fossil evidence of Esox is Esox tiemani from the late Paleocene.

Scientific Name

‘Pike’ describes several species that belong to the genus Esox (a Greek word likely borrowed from the Celtic term for certain types of long-bodied freshwater fish). This genus is the only currently living member of the family Esocidae. More broadly, it is part of the order Esociformes along with the small mud minnows. Several extinct types of pike have been found in the fossil record dating back tens of millions of years.

7 Types of Pikes

There are seven species currently recognized in the genus Esox. This includes four species officially called pike, plus the American pickerel, the chain pickerel, and the muskellunge. The seven species of Esox are:

• Northern Pike (Esox lucius): Endemic to Europe, Northern Asia, and North America (including a large stretch of territory between Alaska and the Midwestern United States), the northern pike is a very popular game fish. It was so popular, in fact, that people introduced it to other parts of the world, where it’s sometimes seen as a threat to native fishing stocks.
• Southern Pike (Esox cisalpinus): As the name suggests, this is the southernmost species of pike. It is found as far south as Italy, southern France, and Switzerland.
• Amur Pike (Esox reichertii): Also known as the black-spotted pike, it is native to the Amur River system in East Asia, which straddles China, Mongolia, and Russia.
• Aquitanian Pike (Esox aquitanicus): Native to the southwestern region of France, this species was first recognized in 2014, so not much is known about it.
• American pickerel (Esox americanus): This species is present in Canada and Mississippi, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and Texas.
• Chain pickerel (Esox niger): Known for putting up a fight when caught, these fish are found in the U.S. off the East Coast and parts of the Midwest and South. Other names for the fish are eastern pickerel and gunny.
• Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy): Commonly called the muskie, this large, predatory fish lives in freshwater lakes and rivers across North America and is thought of as a prized catch, as it is difficult to land one.

Appearance

The pike fish is characterized by a long, relatively flat body, a shovel-like mouth, and big teeth. It has a single dorsal and anal fin each near the tail, plus two pairs of fins near the head and stomach. The small scales are typically covered in blue-gray, yellow-green, or almost pinkish-red colors that become lighter near the underside of the fish.

The muskellunge is widely recognized as the largest member of the genus. The typical specimen in this species can reach up to 48 inches long and 36 pounds in weight (though specimens up to 70 pounds have been documented).

The more common northern pike averages 18 to 20 inches in length and can weigh up to 46 pounds, but it can also grow to much larger sizes. The largest recorded northern pike specimen ever caught was a 55-pound behemoth that came from Lake Greffern, Germany, in 1986.

Habitat

The pike is found in freshwater rivers and lakes all over the Northern Hemisphere. The greatest concentration occurs in the United States and Canada. It can survive at all types of depths, including near the bottom.

Diet

As an apex predator, the adult pike is a patient carnivore that lies in wait among the weeds for prey to come by so it can seize them with its sharp teeth in an aggressive display of rapid motion.

This animal prefers to consume insects, isopods, and small fish, while larger species also consume water birds, frogs, and small mammals. The northern pike is a cannibalistic fish that will feed on juvenile members of its own species.

Predators and Threats

The adult pike is a top predator in the food chain, with few natural predators besides humans, but the eggs and juvenile fish do make a tasty snack for otters, aquatic birds, and other fish.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

The pike’s spawning season usually occurs at any time between late winter and spring, when it begins moving upriver or closer to the shore. Mating behavior varies slightly by species. The male northern pike, for instance, can induce the female to release eggs by gently nudging her head. The male will then release his sperm to fertilize the eggs.

The young pike (sometimes called jacks) will emerge from the fertilized eggs a few weeks later. Vulnerable and alone, they will attach themselves to weeds and survive off the yolk sac while they cannot feed on more substantial food. When their mouths finally develop, the young fish will begin to consume zooplankton (tiny aquatic animals), and later on in their development, the fish will move on to larger prey.

A single female pike can produce thousands of eggs every year in the spawning season. Scientists believe that a female can lay 8,000 to 12,000 eggs per pound on average, so a fully grown fish weighing 20 to 40 pounds could lay between 200,000 and 400,000 eggs!

Many of these juveniles lack protection and are simply not expected to survive predation for the first few months. If a juvenile northern pike survives to adulthood, it is known to live about 10 to 15 years in the wild. The longest documented lifespan is around 26 years.

Pike in Fishing and Cooking

The pike is a popular fish in both recreational and commercial fishing. It is rarely caught in large enough quantities to cause excessive population pressures. It also does not adapt very well to artificial fisheries. Instead, they tend to be caught in smaller numbers by individual anglers. Dead bait, live bait, and lure fishing are all effective methods for catching the pike. However, due to its sharp teeth, extra care is required when handling the fish.

The pike has a white, flaky flesh with a rather watery taste. Whether baked, grilled, or fried, the flesh is high in protein and good fats. However, you should watch out for the small bones in the flesh that can really make this fish a nuisance to eat. You should clean it well before cooking.