Species profile
Grass Pickerel
Esox americanus vermiculatus
Identify Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Notable details
- The smallest North American pike, rarely exceeding 12 inches or a few ounces.
- Despite its tiny size, it's an aggressive ambush predator that strikes prey nearly its own length.
- Thrives in shallow, heavily vegetated streams and ponds across the central and eastern U.S.
- A subspecies of the Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus), distinguished by finer vermiculate body markings.
- Tolerates warm, low-oxygen water that would stress or kill larger pike relatives.
Jurisdictions with rules for Grass Pickerel
Background
The American pickerels are two subspecies of Esox americanus, a species of freshwater fish in the pike family (family Esocidae) of order Esociformes: the redfin pickerel, E. americanus americanus Gmelin, 1789, and the grass pickerel, E. americanus vermiculatus Lesueur, 1846.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Grass Pickerel article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Grass Pickerel?
Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Grass Pickerel?
Grass Pickerel is Esox americanus vermiculatus.
Is Grass Pickerel regulated for fishing?
Yes — Grass Pickerel has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Grass Pickerel?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Grass Pickerel along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.