Species profile
Sacramento Pikeminnow
Ptychocheilus grandis
At a glance
Sacramento Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 813 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- The largest minnow native to western North America, reaching up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long.
- Adults are voracious predators that eat other fish, frogs, crayfish, and occasionally small birds.
- Found exclusively in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River drainage of California.
- Juveniles eat insects and crustaceans before transitioning to a fish-dominated diet as adults.
- Can live more than 10 years in the wild.
Where Sacramento Pikeminnow are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Sacramento Pikeminnow
Background
The Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) (also known as Sacramento squawfish) is a large cyprinid fish of California. It is native to the Los Angeles River, Sacramento-San Joaquin, Pajaro-Salinas, Russian River, Clear Lake and upper Pit River river basins.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Sacramento 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.