Species profile
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Identify Northern Pike (Esox lucius) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 38 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 43 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Maryland); the most generous is 20 (Utah).
Across 18 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 28.2 in (≈ 2 ft 4 in).
Confirmed by 5,875 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Minnesota, and Michigan the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Northern pike can exceed 4 feet in length and weigh over 50 lbs.
- They can burst to speeds of around 8–10 mph to ambush unsuspecting prey.
- Northern pike will eat fish, frogs, small ducks, and even muskrats.
- Females live longer and grow larger than males, sometimes reaching 25 years of age.
- They are found across the entire Northern Hemisphere, from North America through Europe and Siberia.
Where Northern Pike are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Northern Pike
Background
The northern pike (Esox lucius), known simply as a pike in Britain, Ireland, most of Canada, and most parts of the United States (once called luce when fully grown; also called jackfish or simply "northern" in the U.S. Upper Midwest and in Manitoba), is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (i.e.…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Northern Pike article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Northern Pike?
Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 43 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Northern Pike?
Northern Pike is Esox lucius.
Is Northern Pike regulated for fishing?
Yes — Northern Pike has fishing regulations in 38 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Northern Pike?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Northern Pike 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.