An Overview of Northern Pike Regulations in North America

Abstract

Northern pike (Esox lucius) is a popular sport fish in the United States and Canada that is currently managed for multiple angler uses. However, there has been increased concern over lower quality (i.e., smaller fish) northern pike populations. In 1997, the Esocid Technical Committee (ETC) of the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society surveyed natural resource agencies about their northern pike management. In addition, a round-table discussion on the quality of northern pike management was conducted in 1999. This paper is a summary of the ETC findings. In some cases, northern pike regulations have existed since the late 1800s, but most states and provinces did not use regulations until the 1950s or 1960s. Some agencies currently manage northern pike for angling quality (i.e., more large fish), others have few or no northern pike regulations, and some agencies manage for quality in some water bodies and do not manage northern pike at all in other water bodies. In general, states and provinces manage for quality northern pike when the public perceives the need. Experimental regulations (e.g., protected slot-length limits) currently are being used on some waters. Although regulations can help create quality northern pike populations, angler compliance and environmental constraints on growth and recruitment also influence the success of management programs. Managers and anglers must realize the limitations of regulations for restructuring northern pike populations.