Esox niger (Source) Superregnum: Eukaryota Name Esox niger Lesueur, 1818 Synonyms * Esox reticulatus Vernacular names ----------- The Chain Pikerel, Esox niger (syn. Esox reticulatus), is a species of freshwater fish in the pike family (family Esocidae) of order Esociformes. It is also known as the federation pike or federation pickerel. Its range is along the eastern coast of North America from southern Canada to Florida, and west to Texas. Pickerel is often a name given to walleye, although the true name belongs to the chain pickerel. Common nicknames in the southeastern United States are the southern pike and jack fish. The chain pickerel has a distinctive dark chain-like pattern on its greenish sides. Its body outline resembles that of the northern pike. May reach up to 30 inches only on rare occasions. The average size for chain pickerel, however, is 24 inches and 3 pounds. (The average chain pickerel caught by fisherman is between 0 to 2 pounds ). The world record is 9 pounds, 6 ounces. The chain pickerel feeds primarily on way smaller fish which it ambushes from cover with a rapid lunge and secures with its sharp teeth. It is not unusual for pickerel to leap out of the water at flying insects, or even at dangling fishing lures. Chain pickerel are considered good eating by many, but due to many small bones preparing the fish can be difficult. However the meat is very white and flakey with a good mild flavor as the pickerel is a lean fish ( not being oily such as salmon or trout). Angling The chain pickerel is a popular sport fish. It is an energetic fighter when hooked. Anglers have success with live minnows, spinnerbaits, spoons, plugs, and other lures, usually with some kind of feather or bucktail material. If the angler intends to release a fish, it is advisable use pliers to flatten the barbs on the lure's hooks. Chain pickerel can swallow an entire lure, so it will be much easier to free a deeply-hooked fish and get it back into the water as soon as possible, very fast or it will die. Practically any bass lure can be effective for pickerel, although like most pikes they seem to be particularly susceptible to flashy lures which imitate small forage fish. Dragging a plastic worm, lizard, frog, or other soft imitation can also be extremely effective. A steel leader is necessary for sharp-toothed and active fish sizing two to three pounds. The angler would also do well to use 12 to 17-lb. test line on an open-face spinning reel. Methods are similar to those for bass such as dragging a lure through weeds in shallow water and jerking it side-to-side to give it the look of injured prey. Chain pickerel are voracious and opportunistic feeders and will attack most any fodder that moves into their range of vision. Thus the angler should try to make the lure look like dying or escaping prey. Edibility Like all pike, the chain is big, but for the table the angler must clean them properly to remove the many small bones. First, clean them as any other fish, then carefully remove the backbone. Fillet the meat in three- to four-inch segments. Carefully cut small incisions on the meat up and across. This should eliminate all bones. Deep-fry the fillets until brown. References * Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2004). "Esox niger" in FishBase. October 2004 version.
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