River Monsters: The 5 Largest Fish in the Saint Lawrence River

There are several very large fish in the Saint Lawrence River. The river is particularly famous for its bass, pike, and muskellunge fish. Bass tournaments are regularly held on the river, and the river regularly appears on Bassmaster’s annual list of the best American bass lakes.

However, these aren’t necessarily the biggest fish in the river.

1. Muskies

Saint Lawrence River is known for its very large muskies (or, more properly, muskellunge). This species is the largest member of the pike family. The largest muskie ever caught came from the St. Lawrence River and weighed 69 pounds.

Therefore, they play a very big role in the state’s fishing community.

Sadly, they have been declining, though. There are several potential reasons for this. For one, invasive species have competed with the native muskies, driving down the population.

Human development has led to the destruction of some spawning habitats, too. Invasive gobies are also thought to gobble up their eggs.

It’s even thought that viruses may play a role in their decline.

These fish are prized for their “fight.” They’re aggressive and a much more active catch than other fish. They’ve earned the nickname “the fish of 10,000 casts” for this reason.

2. Sturgeon

The sturgeon is easily one of the biggest fish in the Saint Lawrence River. They can grow up to seven feet long and weigh hundreds of pounds. They’re extremely long-lived, too. Many make it to more than 100 years old. The species is thought to date back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Sadly, because the species has such a long lifespan, it also takes them a bit to breed. Therefore, their populations take longer to bounce back.

They have been on the state’s threatened species list since 1983. Mostly, their populations have declined due to overfishing, but habitat loss probably also plays a role. The species is rebounding; it’s just taking them a while.

This river has one of the largest sturgeon populations in the state. Therefore, many of the revival efforts have taken place in this river.

3. Pike

On top of muskies, there are several other pike in the river. They’re one of the most common and popular game fish. Practically all of them have a long, slender body with a pointed snout. They’re usually greenish or brown.

Pike can grow over 20 pounds in the river. They’re often found in weedy areas where the water is shallow. They can also be found along the edges of shoals. There, they eat smaller fish, like perch.

These fish are extremely aggressive, as a rule. They like to strike at just about any type of bait. In this regard, they aren’t very picky.

4. Walleye

Walleye are extremely popular in the Saint Lawrence River, too. They’re tasty game fish and much more laidback to catch than pike. They’re a member of the perch family and closely related to other types of perch.

They have slender bodies with large mouths and (strangely) very obvious canine teeth. They can reach about 10 pounds in the river, though larger individuals also exist. They’re often found in deep waters – the opposite of pike.

They like to hang out near rocky points, islands, and dams. The best time and place to catch them is in shallow water tributaries when they begin to spawn in the spring.

Walleye may not get as big as some other species, but they’re still a considerable force in the river.

5. Carp

You can also find carp in the St. Lawrence River. These large fish were originally native to Asia and Europe. However, they have been introduced into North America. They can reach up to 50 pounds, making them larger than many other fish. (However, 20-pounders are the most common.)

Carp prefer shallow, weedy areas. You may find them in bays and along riverbanks. They prefer to consume insects, worms, crustaceans, and mollusks, but they will also feed on aquatic plants.

They’re considered an invasive species and compete heavily with native fish. However, they are also a popular sport fish for anglers, who enjoy their size. Carp also produce tons of fight, adding to their popularity.

Many fishermen now use European-style carp fishing gear, complete with 12-foot carp rods. Serious anglers even buy specialized hard-boiled baits with built-in scents and flavors. Usually, you’ll see the serious anglers out during June, July, and August.

Summary of the 5 Largest Fish in the Saint Lawrence River

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