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Outside Western Europe there are other species of pike to be found. In North Eastern Asia, in the catchment of the River Amur, there is the Amur pike which has the body shape of a pike but it has dark spots on a light background. In North America, where Esox lucius is commonly refered to as the 'Northern pike', there is the larger muskellunge (commonly called the musky or muskie) and three species of smaller pike; chain pickerel, redfin pickerel and grass pickerel. Additionally pike and musky hybridize producing fish known as tiger muskies because of the vivid bar markings on their flanks, and in some areas of North America (and possibly elsewhere) a colour mutant of the pike appears which is known as the silver pike owing to their lack of spots and overall silver-blue colour. Other colour mutations are known around the world, including pike which are an almost uniform yellow colour - sometimes called banana pike!
Muskellunge (Esox. masquinongy)
There has been much dispute over the musky record in recent years, with doubt being cast over a number of fish following one angler's admissions of falsifying weights! The musky can certainly exceed 65lbs in weight as fish verified at such weights have been captured in recent years. Three major colour variations of the musky occur naturally; spotted, barred and silver.
Amur Pike (E. reicherti)
The Amur pike doesn't appear to grow as large as the pike, apparently reaching a maximum weight of between fifteen and twenty-two pounds. They are rumoured to grow as large as thirty pounds.
Chain Pickerel (E. niger)
The largest recorded angling capture was made in 1961 and the fish weighed 9lb 6oz.
Redfin Pickerel (E. americanus americanus)
The largest caught on rod and line weighed 1lb 8oz and was landed in 1984.
Grass Pickerel (Esox a. vermiculatus).
Usual maximum size is around 12 inches. The grass pickerel is not usually deliberately fished for.
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