Reply from F&W about hybrid pike caught

[msgdan]

As there were quite a few questions and opinions about the "hybrid" pike I caught this week, I sent an e-mail with a picture of the "fish" to the fresh water division of the F&W of NJ. I asked if he thought it was actually a hybrid and also if it is a hybrid, do they or northern pike reproduce within the river system.

Here is the reply I received a short time ago.



Yes, Danny, it does appear to be a hybrid, and it is the first that we have heard of.



To our knowledge, N. pike do not reproduce in NJ, but based on your fish, it appears they do hybridize with chain pickerel.



I will forward your info. to others in our bureau.



Thanks.



Mark





Mark Boriek, Principal Fisheries Biologist

NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife

Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries

[Jigman13]

That pretty cool, man. You've provided the state with its first documented evidence of pike-pickerel hybridization. You should get the right to name to species!!!


"...Nature finds a way...."

[Eskimo]

.


Now you need to get back out there and re-capture that fish so they can run genetic tests on it to confirm the genotype matches the hybrid phenotype.



.

[Skunk City]

The response was from forums member "Mark B". I've messaged them about Walleye in the Passaic and got a quick response. Good stuff and congrats again on the rare catch.

[Esox Luciano]

Congrats on the hybrid pioneering. Don't see why they think pike don't reproduce in wild nj? Good stuff tho man!! Sweet pike from ur more recent venture as well! Keep em comin dude ur killin em'!

[tautog]

In the spring they should play Barry White and pour Natty Light into the river to increase "hybridization.":D

[Jigman13]

In the spring they should play Barry White and pour Natty Light into the river to increase "hybridization.":D

Sounds like my college years...swap the natty with miller lite and bud light though lol

[justin1982]

Funny this topic came up about hybridizing and pike reproducing. I caught this little guy tonight and was wondering if he was freshly stocked or was a baby born in the river?

For some reason I can't upload the pic, anyway the fish was about 6-8 inches long. I can email it if anyone wants to see it

[justin1982]

There he is

[saxmatt]

There he is

Could have been stocked or born in the river. There are plenty of good spawning areas in the NJ lakes and rivers. Not sure why Mark said they don't think pike reproduce in NJ waters. Either fish and game is misleading the public on purpose or they are unfamiliar with the spawning habits of the species. It's cool Dan posted this hybrid. Hybrid pike/pickerel are rare and for every hybrid there must be hundreds or thousands of pike born in the river.

[Mark B.]

What I should’ve said was that natural reproduction of N. Pike in NJ is limited (confirmed in Spruce Run Res. for several years). Therefore, the fishery is sustained by maintenance stocking of hatchery reared fingerlings.

[gwl2oneida]

In the spring they should play Barry White and pour Natty Light into the river to increase "hybridization.":D

Bwahahaha...... nice catch, that's the fish of a lifetime.

[acaravaglia]

Crazy

[buzzbaiter]

There he is

I caught 7 that size last night. If u fished within a 1/4 mile of any of the stocking points(bridge crossings primarily), I'm 100% sure its freshly stocked.

[Lard Almighty]

What I should’ve said was that natural reproduction of N. Pike in NJ is limited (confirmed in Spruce Run Res. for several years). Therefore, the fishery is sustained by maintenance stocking of hatchery reared fingerlings.I was just about to call you out on that. Many years ago I saw numerous pike in Mulhockaway Creek in early spring, and caught one that was loaded with eggs. Thanks for the clarification.