Northern Pike

Abstract

NORTHERN PIKE LIFE HISTORY Description Northern pike, also referred to as northerns, pike, jack, and brochet, are most commonly recognized by their elongate snout, head, and body form, large yellow eyes, and a large mouth full of sharp prominent teeth. An abundance of teeth line the jaws, roof of the mouth, and tongue. Adults are characterized by conspicuous black markings on the fins are in striking contrast to a background color, ranging from shades of yellow/green to orange/red. The pattern of body coloration in juveniles is distinctively different from that found on adults. Juvenile pike are covered by an irregular pattern of long, wavy vertical markings that range in color from white to yellow, set against a slightly darker background. As pike mature the elongate vertical markings undergo a transition to bean-shaped spots. Chain pickerel are closely related to northern pike, inhabiting all waters where pike currently occur in Maine. Both species are very similar in general appearance, and given the incidence of hybridization (cross breeding between specie), these two species are not always readily distinguished from one another. Chain pickerel possess dark, chain-like markings along the flanks, in contrast to the light colored irregular marking found on northern pike. Perhaps the two most reliable features to distinguish pike from chain pickerel are the number of sensory pores on the lower jaw and the presence of scales on the gill cover. Pike usually posses 5 pair of small sensory pores along the underside of the lower jaw, and possess scales on only the upper half of the gill cover (Figure 1). Where as, chain pickerel usually posses 4 pair of sensory pores and the gill cover is fully scaled (Figure 2). Figure 1. Northern Pike