Northern Pike

Esox lucius

summary 4

The Pike is found in both lochs and rivers, typically in murky or weedy waters as they are ambush predators, requiring a habitat with plenty of cover. Pike are very aggressive hunters whose diet consists primarily of smaller fish, but they are not fussy eaters and will also eat frogs, birds and small mammals, they can also be cannibalistic. Pike spawn in the spring, once the water temperature reaches approximately 50 degrees. Pike are abundant in Scotland and are not subject to commercial or subsistence fishing. They are a popular sport fish, but a majority of this fishing is catch-and-release.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Bas Kers, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/21933510@N07/4153273666
  2. (c) Bas Kers (NL), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/21933510@N07/4152511459/
  3. (c) Biopix, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Esox%20lucius%2023953.jpg
  4. (c) jrpscott, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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