Reply from F&W about hybrid pike caught

[saxmatt]

Originally Posted by justin1982

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.

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[acaravaglia]

Crazy