My son thought he would try his hand at muskie fishing while I was going for big smallies. He won, it was his first muskie trip ever. I would show you the smallies I caught but,........................ I don't want to.

What a Gorgeous Ski ~ 

 

Congrats to him

 

A-Jay

Great fish! Looks like a tiger musky, and 48" is a monster!

Turkey Sandwich is correct, it looks to be a Tiger Muskie. Beautiful fish!

Beautiful fish. Congrats to him.

I thought it looked like a tiger muskie as well. Beautiful fish regardless!

Beautiful Tiger! The color of the markings is outrageous.

Beautiful T-musky! Almost broke fifty inches!

Wow! Nice Tiger! That fish is huge for a Tiger Muskie. What did he catch it on?

Also, I hope you are planning a replica for that beast (assuming she is back swimming safely), because your son may go a long time before topping that.

Congratulations to your son!

Congrats. beautiful tiger! replica worthy fish right there. I hope your son remembers that moment forever. I know you will!

Trophy fish. Congrats to you both. Those tigers are beautiful.

Fantastic fish!!

Man!!  That is huge!

Very nice!  Now somebody educate this california boy.  Is a Tiger Musky just a variation in markings and color, or a different species?

Very nice! Now somebody educate this california boy. Is a Tiger Musky just a variation in markings and color, or a different species?

A Tiger Muskie is a cross between a Female Musky and Male Pike. They are sterile in nature, hence why a lot of places stock them (i.e., to have direct management over what's in a lake). Plus, Tiger Muskie are easier to raise in a hatchery (don't require live food like a Musky) and are a little more agressive in the wild. The most obvious way to tell the difference between a Musky and a Tiger Musky is the marking, however, I have seen some pure bred Musky in the barred phases look like a Tiger. So the second way to tell the difference is by the tail. Pure bred Muskie have a pointed tail where a Tiger Muskie (and Pike) have a rounded tail at the tips. There is a third way and that is counting the pours under the jaw, but you'll never be able to do that looking at a picture and only comes in handy when you are holding the fish and really don't know what it is.

Cool, thanks for the education!  Can they cross Female Pike and male Musky?

Dang.....what a gorgeous fish. I can only imagine the pulling power of such a monster. 

Wow! Nice Tiger! That fish is huge for a Tiger Muskie. What did he catch it on?

Also, I hope you are planning a replica for that beast (assuming she is back swimming safely), because your son may go a long time before topping that.

Congratulations to your son

 It was a Tiger Muskie, I should have clarified that. He caught it on a huge 8'' lighter weight spinner.  As far a a replica is concern, he is  planning on catching it again when it gets bigger, lol, then make the replica. Knowing my son I wouldn't doubt that happening.

  I should add, we were fishing out of a small 8' "Crawdad" type pond boat.

Did you eat it?

 

Helluva fish

It was a Tiger Muskie, I should have clarified that. He caught it on a huge 8'' lighter weight spinner.  As far a a replica is concern, he is  planning on catching it again when it gets bigger, lol, then make the replica. Knowing my son I wouldn't doubt that happening.

Do a replica now and one after he catches it again. Show the stages of growth.

As far a a replica is concern, he is planning on catching it again when it gets bigger, lol, then make the replica. Knowing my son I wouldn't doubt that happening.

Not to be a musky snob, but let your son know that if he does want to catch that fish again (or any musky), I would advise against holding them vertically. With a fish that size, holding that way puts a lot of stress on it's neck.

I didn't want to be that guy LC but I agree. those big long toothy guys need support when held. I'd get that replica made now Jig. that's a beast of a tiger.

Not to be a musky snob, but let your son know that if he does want to catch that fish again (or any musky), I would advise against holding them vertically. With a fish that size, holding that way puts a lot of stress on it's neck.

 

Not being a snob just helping to educate. Pike & musky over 20lbs need to be held horizontally.

Not to be a musky snob, but let your son know that if he does want to catch that fish again (or any musky), I would advise against holding them vertically. With a fish that size, holding that way puts a lot of stress on it's neck.

Thanks for the info, I will let him know. Like I said this was our first muskie trip and his second muskie ever. We'll know better next time.

What a beauty! Get that replica made now, you never know when someone else will catch that monster and have it mounted!

 

Tom