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Scientific Name
Esox spp.
Other Names
Green pike, Duckbilled pike, Black pike, and Jack fish
Description
These fish are long and slender with a long mouth and well-developed teeth. Pickerel have dark brown or green chainlike marks on the sides with a dark back. The snout is dark, and fins have a dusky coloring to them. Pickerel can weigh 2 to 10 pounds and can reach lengths of up to 31 inches. They can live up to 9 years in the wild with females growing faster and living longer than males.
Habits and Habitat
Adults feed mostly on crayfish and small fish like shad, sunfishes, and shiners. They feed mostly in the early morning and late evening. They live in clear lakes and streams but prefer lakes with abundant aquatic vegetation. Pickerel spawn in vegetation as the sticky eggs attach themselves to the plants. Spawning takes place in late winter or early spring when water temperatures are between about 39ºF and 59ºF. Unlike some species pickerel do not guard the eggs after spawning.
State Record
The Mississippi Rod and Reel record weighing 6.25 pounds was caught in Bay Springs Lake by R. Boren in 1986.
Fishing Fact
Pickerel are often caught by anglers using the same artificial lures offered to largemouth bass.