Species profile
Northern Pikeminnow
Ptychocheilus oregonensis
At a glance
Northern Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 65 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 1,161 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Oregon, and Idaho the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Washington and Oregon pay anglers a cash reward for each northern pikeminnow caught in the Columbia River.
- They consume millions of juvenile salmon and steelhead smolts annually in the Columbia River system.
- Can grow to about 24 inches (60 cm) long and live up to 12 years.
- The Columbia River sport-reward program has removed over 4 million pikeminnow since launching in 1990.
- Native to the Columbia River basin, Fraser River, and other Pacific Northwest drainages.
Where Northern Pikeminnow are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Northern Pikeminnow
Background
The northern pikeminnow, or Columbia River dace (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a large member of the minnow family, Cyprinidae. Until 1999, when the American Fisheries Society officially changed the common name to pikeminnow, the four species of this genus were known as squawfish. Female northern pikeminnow reach sexual maturity at about six years, males in three to five. They can live longer…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Northern Pikeminnow 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.