I need some help identifying this fish. I have never caught either pike or pickeral before so I don't know which this is. How can you tell the difference?

It looks like a Pike to me. The markings on a Chain Pickerel are typically on a lighter green background and resemble chains as opposed to Pike which are described as bean shaped markings on a darker background . Pickerel also have a black line underneath their eyes which is easily identifiable. Just my thoughts on it and there are a few other ways to tell. Hope this helps.

Ditto to the previous reply.

Absolutely a Northern Pike, Esox lucius.

Thanks fellas, that's what I thought but having no experience with either I just wanted to be sure. I didn't even know my water had them!

That is definetly a pike. They are pretty thick in the north country of Mn where I'm from.

Anyone have a picture of a pickeral?

Shows what I know, I thought it was a pickeral!

I looked at the fish identification chart thats in the New Jersey Fish and Widlife Guide. It's a Northern Pike. Nice fish !! How big was he ?

That is definetly a pike. They are pretty thick in the north country of Mn where I'm from.

Anyone have a picture of a pickeral?

Heres a chunky chain pickerel I caught the other day while bass fishing.

ha! that's funny, I caught this fish on the same rod and same bait (but different color)

Ha that is pretty funny I guess these guys have an affinity for St Croix and super flukes lol.

There are 2 ways to positively ID the specie.

1.  Mandibular pores.  these are the pores on the bottom of the jaw (on the ventral margin)  Small holes that look like dots.

Musky-6 or more per side

Pike- 5 per side

Pickerel- 4 per side

                                                                 PIKE                                                  MUSKY

The second way is by the scales on the gill plate.

Musky-top 1/2 of cheek, top 1/2 of gill plate

Pike- Full cheek and top 1/2 of gill plate

Pickerel- fully scaled cheek and gill plate

Thanks, LBH, that helps a lot. I also read something about the fins being different between Pike and Pickerel. Pike typically have markings on the fins whereas pickerel fins are solid.

I did notice the mandibular pores because I remember seeing them and thinking that it was similar to a smallmouth with the dots on the lower jaw. I didn't count them though because I didn't know their were different amounts between pike and picks.

Hah! beat me to it LBH. how I ell the difference Pickerel have a dark vertical line by their eye the others dont.

I had never even seen a pickerel till just now. We dont have them up here as far as I know. Tons o' pike though, muskies too

Is there a way to positively identify a tiger muskie?