Esox lucius
Description
- Also called pike, great Northern Pike, Jack, Jackfish and Pickerel.
- Native to freshwaters of North America but not native to Southern BC.
- Considered the monster of all freshwater fish species in western Canada.
- Long, slimy body. Adults are typically 45-75 cm long.
- Typical weight range is 0.5-4 kg.
- Can reach 30 years of age.
Consequences of invasion
- Predicted to have a high negative impact within the Columbia River system.
- Species most vulnerable to northern pike are those with small adult body size and a lack of spiny rays.
Integrated pest management
- It is illegal to transfer live fish between water bodies. People caught moving or releasing live fish into lakes or streams in BC will be prosecuted. This does not apply to catch-and-release fishing, when releasing fish directly back into the water at the point of capture.