Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the pike fish
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See the fishing tripsThe Pike Fish
From June to December
50 cm
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The Pike fish belongs to the Esocidae family. Pike can reach 1.30 m and weigh 25 kg. The current capture size is 50 cm for a weight of 1 kg. Females are commonly larger than males. The longevity is 10 to 14 years for males and 20 years (maximum 30 years) for females. Breeding takes place from February to May. The female lays 15,000 to 45,000 eggs per kg of weight. It is caught from June to December.
This species is identifiable by its shape as a rifle bullet. The odd fins are at the back of the animal (allowing a sprinter propulsion). The characteristic head looks like a duck's beak. The mandible is longer than the upper jaw. The color varies from light green to black depending on the dominant color of the colonized habitats. The sides are lighter with darker transverse bands. During growth, the oblique stripes of young people give way to horizontal lines.
The Pike fish lifestyle
The Pike fish is a very voracious predator. It consumes a wide variety of prey: fish (especially cyprinids), amphibians, small mammals, crayfish, birds frequenting fresh waters... It also exhibits cannibalistic behavior, especially in young stadiums. It is located at the top of the food chain.
Reproduction is influenced by climatic, hydrological (flood) and environmental conditions. It takes place from February to May, in waters with a temperature of 7° to 11°C. Spawning takes place in shallow beds on a grassy plant support (flooded meadows). Pike are solitary fish but during the breeding season they gather together. Females are surrounded by one or two males. Eggs are deposited on the grassy substrate in groups of about 50 with an interval of a few minutes between each group. The channeling of rivers has induced a decline in pike because of the absence of grassy substrate essential for reproduction.
The pike fish habitat
Pike inhabit deep and vegetated areas of streams, ponds, and lakes where they can hide to surprise their prey. It is a solitary and very territorial fish. It prefers slow-moving waters and calm areas. It is well suited to low-salt brackish water.
Pike is found throughout Europe except in the northern Iberian Peninsula, southern Italy, Scotland and Norway. It usually frequents fresh waters but is found in the southern Baltic Sea whose salinity can exceed 10â°.
The pike fish angling
Traditional pike fishing is widely practiced, but other techniques such as spoons or lures imitating fish give good results. The wielded dead man may also attempt the pike, but movement will be the decisive factor in triggering an attack on this visual predator.
