American pickerel

The American pickerel, known scientifically as Esox americanus, is a medium-sized freshwater fish. It belongs to the pike family, which is known as Esocidae. These fish are important predatory members of North American ecosystems. They play a specific role in the food web by hunting smaller creatures. While they are related to larger fish, they have their own unique traits. Understanding these fish helps us see how different species occupy specific niches in nature.

There are two recognized subspecies of the American pickerel. The first is the redfin pickerel, or brook pickerel, known as Esox americanus americanus. The second is the grass pickerel, or Esox americanus vermiculatus. These two subspecies look very much alike at first glance. However, you can tell them apart by looking closely at their fins. The redfin pickerel has distinctive orange to red coloration on its fins. In contrast, the grass pickerel lacks these bright colors.

Detailed physical traits also help scientists identify the two subspecies. The grass pickerel has fins with amber or dusky coloration. These fins also feature dark leading edges. You can look at the light areas between the dark bands on the fins. On a grass pickerel, these light areas are generally wider. On the redfin pickerel, these light areas are narrower. Both subspecies can reach a record size of about 14 inches in length. They can also weigh approximately 1 pound.

History plays a role in how we name and classify these fish. The redfin pickerel was named by Gmelin in 1789. Later, Lesueur classified the grass pickerel as Esox vermiculatus in 1846. Today, scientists consider the grass pickerel to be a subspecies of the American pickerel. There is no widely used English common name for both subspecies together. The name "American pickerel" is actually a translation of the French name, brochet d'Amérique. This shows how scientific names often cross different languages and eras.

American pickerels live in specific types of environments. They prefer sluggish, vegetated waters. This includes habitats like pools, lakes, and wetlands. These areas provide plenty of plants for cover and hunting. The redfin pickerel has a large range. It extends from the Saint Lawrence basin in Quebec down to the Gulf Coast. This range covers areas from Mississippi to Florida. The grass pickerel lives further west. Its range goes from the Great Lakes Basin to the western Gulf Coast. This includes areas from Ontario and Michigan down to eastern Texas.

These fish follow a specific cycle for reproduction and survival. They are carnivorous predators that feed on smaller fish. To reproduce, they scatter spherical, sticky eggs. They choose to lay these eggs in shallow, heavily vegetated waters. The eggs hatch after a period of 11 to 15 days. Interestingly, the adult pickerels do not guard the eggs. They also do not stay to protect the young fish once they hatch.

Even though they are predators, they are also prey for others. Larger fish can eat pickerels if they move into certain areas. This happens when pickerels venture into larger rivers or estuaries. Species like the striped bass, bowfin, and gray weakfish hunt them. This creates a complex chain of cause and effect in the water. Anglers also interact with them through fishing. While not as highly prized as the northern pike, they are still caught. Some use ultralight tackle to catch these small but voracious pikes.