Species profile
Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
At a glance
Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 21 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (West Virginia); the most generous is 15 (Florida).
Across 8 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 14.7 in (≈ 1 ft 3 in).
Confirmed by 2,737 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Chain pickerel are named for the distinctive chain-link pattern on their greenish sides.
- They are aggressive predators year-round, feeding actively even under ice in winter.
- Found throughout eastern North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida.
- Typical adults measure 18–24 inches; the world record exceeds 9 lbs.
- Chain pickerel tolerate warmer and more acidic water than their northern pike relatives.
Where Chain Pickerel are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Chain Pickerel
Background
The chain pickerel or southern pike (Esox niger) is a species of freshwater fish in the pike family (family Esocidae) of order Esociformes. The chain pickerel and the American pickerel belong to the Esox genus of pike.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Chain Pickerel article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.