Outside Western Europe there are other
species of pike to be found. In North Eastern Asia, in the catchment of the River
Amur, there is the Amur pike which has the body shape of a pike but it has dark
spots on a light background. In North America, where Esox lucius is commonly refered
to as the 'Northern pike', there is the larger muskellunge (commonly called the
musky or muskie) and three species of smaller pike; chain pickerel, redfin pickerel
and grass pickerel. Additionally pike and musky hybridize producing fish known
as tiger muskies because of the vivid bar markings on their flanks, and in some
areas of North America (and possibly elsewhere) a colour mutant of the pike appears
which is known as the silver pike owing to their lack of spots and overall silver-blue
colour. Other colour mutations are known around the world, including pike which
are an almost uniform yellow colour - sometimes called banana pike!
Muskellunge (Esox. masquinongy)
There has been much dispute over
the musky record in recent years, with doubt being cast over a number of fish
following one angler's admissions of falsifying weights! The musky can certainly
exceed 65lbs in weight as fish verified at such weights have been captured in
recent years. Three major colour variations of the musky occur naturally; spotted,
barred and silver.
Amur Pike (E. reicherti)
The Amur pike doesn't appear to grow
as large as the pike, apparently reaching a maximum weight of between fifteen
and twenty-two pounds. They are rumoured to grow as large as thirty pounds.
Chain Pickerel (E. niger)
The largest recorded angling capture was
made in 1961 and the fish weighed 9lb 6oz.
Redfin
Pickerel (E. americanus americanus)
The largest caught on rod
and line weighed 1lb 8oz and was landed in 1984.
Grass
Pickerel (Esox a. vermiculatus).
Usual maximum size is around
12 inches. The grass pickerel is not usually deliberately fished for.