Species profile
Redfin Pickerel
Esox americanus
Identify Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 11 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 12 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 2 (Pennsylvania); the most generous is 15 (Florida).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 15.4 in (≈ 1 ft 3 in).
Confirmed by 2,345 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under SARA — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- The smallest member of the pike family Esocidae, typically reaching just 6–9 inches as adults.
- Named for the distinctive reddish-orange coloration of its fins.
- An ambush predator that holds motionless in aquatic vegetation before lunging at prey.
- Found in slow, weedy streams and ponds from Maine south to Florida.
- Spawns in late winter to early spring, among the earliest freshwater fish to breed.
Where Redfin Pickerel are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Redfin Pickerel
Protected status
- SARA Schedule 1 (special concern): Grass Pickerel. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
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 Redfin Pickerel article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Redfin Pickerel?
Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 12 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Redfin Pickerel?
Redfin Pickerel is Esox americanus.
Is Redfin Pickerel regulated for fishing?
Yes — Redfin Pickerel has fishing regulations in 11 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 Redfin Pickerel?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Redfin 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.