Size
Pike grow to
a relatively
large size:
lengths of
150 cm and
weight of 25
kg are not
unheard of.
The largest
specimen so
far was
caught in an
abandoned
stone
quarry, in
Germany, in
1983. She
was 147 cm
(4.8 feet)
(All pikes
over 8 kg
are
females.)
long and
weighed 30.5
kg (67 lbs).
The longest
pike was 152
cm (5 feet)
long (weight
27.5 kg,
60.6 lbs).
There were
reports in
older days
of giant
pikes of up
to 40,77 (89
lbs) and
41.5 (91.5
lbs) kg, in
particular
from
Ireland,
most of
which were
researched
by Fred
Buller and
published in
"The
Doomsday
Book of
Mammoth
pike",
supposedly
caught in
nets at the
end of the
1800s. The
British
Islands have
not managed
to produce
much in the
way of giant
pikes in the
last 50
years or so
however,
wherefore
there is
much doubt
surrounding
those
claims.
Currently,
the IGFA
recognizes a
55 lb, 1 oz
pike caught
by Lothar
Louis in
Lake of
Grefeern,
Germany on
October 16,
1986 as the
all-tackle
Northern
Pike world
record.
Northern
Pikes in
North
America
seldom reach
the size of
their
European
counterparts,
however, one
of the
largest
being a 20.9
kg (46 lbs)
specimen
from New
York state.
There are
reports of
far larger
pike, but
these are
either
misidentifications
with its
much larger
relative the
muskellunge,
or simply
have not
been
properly
documented
and belong
in the realm
of legend.
Pikes are found in sluggish streams and shallow, weedy places in lakes, as well as in cold, clear, rocky waters. The pike generally hides in wait for prey, holding perfectly still for long periods, and is then capable of remarkable acceleration, sometimes propelling it a meter into the air (though it rarely leaves the surface). It catches its prey sideways with its sharp teeth, in order to kill it, before turning lengthwise to swallow. It eats mainly fish, but on occasion water voles and ducklings have also been known to fall prey to pike. It is moreover a cannibal and this cannibalism serves in maintaining stability in the pike population. Young pike have been photographed eating pike of a similar size. Northern Pike also feed on others of their kind, insects, and leeches. It has a tremendous appetite.
