Fish Identification (Passaic pike hybrid?)

[dkam36]

Caught this Pike. Noticed some very distinct and unique patterns. Started thinking it could be a Hybrid. My best guess is pickerel x pike, I also thought it looked like a Redfin pickerel (in which case it would be a state record)

Does anyone have a best guess or right answer?

[huntcountypussbuck]

tiger musky ?

[bulletbob]

It looks an awful lot like a juvenile Tiger Muskie to me.. Pike/ Chain Pickerel hybrids typically have spots and chain markings of varying patterns and do not look like that.. To me it looks like a young tiger musky.
After looking at a bunch of photos of various Esox i did see a few pictures of Grass and Redfin Pickerel with marking that were similar to yours, but as you stated that fish would be HUGE one if its a grass or redfin pickerel.. Only problem is, tigers should not be in the river unless its in their by accident somehow.

[slider]

Though it is a young fish, the black bars or spots on its tail tell me its a young MUSKY.

[NJ219bands]

Looks like a tiger musky.

[Doug Vitale]

It's a juvenile pike, like these ones.

https://strikeandcatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dom-bartle.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/5745/23616451700_48e53058b3_3k.jpg

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arnd-Weber/publication/315691690/figure/fig22/AS:614021015289862@1523405426383/Juvenile-pike-Esox-lucius-hiding-between-roots-of-riparian-vegetation-The-picture.png

https://i.redd.it/vf0omyxa3zz61.jpg

[Pondhopper8]

Doug Vitale is right that is a juvenile pike. Beautiful esox!! And great fishery!!

[saxmatt]

Looks like a juvenile pike. They have some cool markings when they’re young.

[Mark B.]

Yes, NJDF&W stocks them (averaging about 6") there in June.