What the heck did I just catch? Part Deux

T

TAGannon

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Oct 14, 2009
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Okay, by now it has got to be clear that I am new at this fishing thing. The only fish I can identify are salt-water species. Well, I no longer live near salt water and there are a bunch of different fish in these lakes and rivers.

He hit my spoon nanoseconds after I cast and really put up a struggle. I tossed him back. But not before I retrieved the phone camera and took the obligatory picture with my ESEE-3
 
It is a Pickerel!!!!!! No Doubt. Very TOOTHY lol. i guess technical name is Chain Pickerel, but i just call em pickerel... Really boney but check out youtube they show how to fillet them, they have an extra set of "Y" bones its a pain in the butt taste good though.
 
That's clearly a Northern Pike. You can expect to catch them 3-4 feet long and in some places, even bigger. They can be nasty. Hard to land sometimes, those sharp teeth are sufficient to snap your line rickytick. Lost many a good rapala to a Northern... Caught a perch being eaten by a walleye being eaten by a Northern once-landed all three fish... er, one fish and two half fishes.
 
My instant thought was pickerel...how does one tell the difference between pike and pickerel?
 
teacher said:
A bit difficult to tell by the photo, but I'd say you have an Esox niger . http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=42

It could be a young Esox Lucius . http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=16

But to me it more closely resembles the Esox niger. Also known as.... Pike, river pike, grass pike, jack, jackfish, eastern pickerel, chainsides, mud pickerel. ;) ;)

Here is a good link for fish ID. http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/default.cfm

Nice catch...... :thumbup: :)
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Thanks for the link. I'll add it to my favorites.
 
Dosen't matter what it is just eat it lol. But if you need to know what it is looks like a pike. They'er fun as hell to fish for and they are a good fight to reel in.
 
glefic said:
Dosen't matter what it is just eat it lol. But if you need to know what it is looks like a pike. They'er fun as hell to fish for and they are a good fight to reel in.
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Until they snap your line and take your 7 dollar rap with it... Use a pliars to dig the hook out, it's not worth taking the chance of running your finger over those 'teeth'. They can slice worse than an Izula!
 
BloodGroove4570 said:
It is a Pickerel!!!!!! No Doubt. Very TOOTHY lol. i guess technical name is Chain Pickerel, but i just call em pickerel... Really boney but check out youtube they show how to fillet them, they have an extra set of "Y" bones its a pain in the butt taste good though.
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:thumbup: what he said.
 
The easiest way to find out what type of fish you caught is to check out the DEC's info on that lake. If by any chance Pickeral and Pike are listed it will be very difficult to tell. Pickeral and Pike that share the same lake very often mate together and make hybrids that confuse their characteristics.
From the picture it is just about impossible to tell, but it is amusing how many people are so sure of the answer.

Judging by the fact you said you do more saltwater fishing and you list that you live in Pathetic New York; I will guess that you live in the southern part of the state. So if you were in Westchester, Long Island, Dutchess, or Rockland county, I would say the fish is most likely a Chain Pickeral as there are very few lakes in those counties that have Northern Pike.

Here is a good site to help you identify the fish.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7034.html

Edit, I just saw that you were fishing near Moravia. Thats pretty damn far up there. I pulled up Owasco Lake which is in that town and both Pickeral and Northern are listed in that lake. So if the cheek of your fish is covered in scales than I would say Chain Pickeral. In the pic I do see a dark line by the eye, and Northern Pike do not have that mark. But again it could be a cross breed.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/36554.html
 
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