Pike vs Musky vs Pickerel

Musky, Northern Pike, and Pickerel belong to the Esocidae family, which as of 2024 contains four species in North America. This Esox Family identification guide will teach you how to identify Musky, Pike and Pickerel with ease as well as the hybrid Tiger Musky.

Labeled Pike anatomy — Photo courtesy of Patrick Johnson

Whether you’re out on the water or on your next visit to the aquarium, there are several things to look for when identifying the individual fish in the Esox family.

Key Identifying Features

Number of pores on each side of the jaw
Facial, cheek, and operculum scaling
Tail shape
Body color
Fin coloration or markings
Lateral lines scale number
Branchiostegal rays under jaw

**Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)**

Chain Pickerel, or chain pikes to some anglers, are found from Texas, east to Florida and north into the Great Lakes. They prefer swamps, rivers and lakes with limited current. Often overlooked by anglers because of their smaller size, this bony and aggressive fish can be fun for all to catch. Chain Pickerel can reach sizes of up to 24 inches and weigh a couple of pounds.

The IGFA world record Chain Pickerel weighed 9.6 pounds and was caught in Homerville, Georgia.

Key Identifying Features

Four pores on the jaw on each side of the jaw
Facial scaling is found on the cheek and gill cover
The tail is forked and has rounded edges
Body colorations olive to dark brown with horizontal chain-like barring
Fins are light yellowish to darker brown in color with no markings
Lateral line scales 115-140
14 to 17 branchiostegal rays on each side

**Musky (Esox masquinongy)**

Muskellunge, or musky, are among the largest North American freshwater fish. Musky are found throughout the eastern US, parts of the Midwest and the Great Lakes including areas of Canada. They prefer lakes, rivers, creeks, and pools with flowing currents and can often be found around aquatic vegetation and timber. Musky are often called the fish of ten thousand casts, and demands the patience of anglers who pursue these predatory fish. They can reach lengths of more than 50 inches and weigh over thirty pounds.

The IGFA world record musky is 67.8 pounds and was caught in Hayward, Wisconsin.

Key Identifying Features

Six or nine pores on each side of the jaw
Facial scaling covers half the cheek
The tail is forked and comes to a point
Body color is olive to green with vertical barring or spotted
Fins are darker in color
Lateral line scales 140-175
16 to 20 branchiostegal rays on each side

**Northern Pike (Esox lucius)**

Northern Pike, or northerns to some anglers, are another large predatory fish found throughout North America. Northern Pike are found as far north as Alaska, throughout most of Canada, as far south as Texas and along the eastern coast of the United States. They prefer lakes, rivers and streams with vegetation and rocky substrate. Northern Pike can reach up to forty inches and twenty pounds in weight.

The IGAF world record Northern Pike weighed 55.1 pounds and was caught in Germany.

Key Identifying Features

Five or less pores on each side of the jaw
Facial scaling covers the whole cheek
The tail is forked and rounded at the ends
Body color is green to brown with horizontal barring or oval spots
Fins are lighter in color
Lateral line scales 105-145
13 to 16 branchiostegal rays per side

**Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus)**

Redfin Pickerel, or the Redfin Pike to some anglers, are one of the smallest members of the Pike family. It is found as far south as Texas, as far east as Florida, and as far north as the Great Lakes. Redfin are among the smallest members of the Esox family, and many anglers do not chase after these elusive fish. Redfin Pickerel will typically only reach about nine inches in length and weigh about a pound.

The IGFA world record Redfin Pickerel weighed 2.4 pounds and was caught in North Carolina.

Key Identifying Features

Four pores on each side of the jaw
Facial scaling is found on the cheek and gill cover
The tail is forked and has rounded edges
Body coloration yellow to brown with vertical barring
Fins are light yellow to reddish in color with no markings
Lateral line scales 94-117
10 to 14 branchiostegal rays on each side

**Tiger Musky (Esox lucius × E. masquinongy)**

Tiger Muskies are beloved by many anglers due to their fast-growing potential and aggressiveness. Tiger Muskies are not true Muskies. They are a hybrid stemming from the spawning of a Northern Pike and a Musky. These hybrids rarely occur naturally in native fish populations. The hybridization process leaves all Tiger Musky sterile; unable to reproduce. Tiger Musky can reach up to fifty inches and weigh over thirty pounds.

The world record Tiger Musky weighed 51.3 pounds and was caught in New Mexico.

Key Identifying Features