Esox masquinongy Mitchill, 1824

Taxonomic Context

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy Mitchill, 1824) closely resemble other esocids, including the northern pike (Esox lucius) and American pickerel (E. americanus), in both appearance and behavior.

Body Shape

Like the northern pike and other aggressive pikes, their body shape follows the typical plan for ambush predators: they have an elongated body, a flat head, and dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins positioned far back along the body.

Standard Size

Adult muskellunge are usually 70–120 cm (28–48 inches) long and weigh 7–16.5 kg (15–36 lb), though some individuals have grown as large as 1.8 m (6 ft) and almost 30 kg (70 lb).

Record Catch

In November 2000, Martin Arthur Williamson caught a 27.8 kg (61.25 pound) muskellunge on Georgian Bay.

Base Body Coloration

Muskellunge bodies are typically light silver, brown, or green, with dark vertical stripes along their flanks.

Flank Marking Variation

These stripes often break up into individual spots, and in some cases—especially in fish that live in turbid waters—markings may be absent entirely.

Patterning Comparison to Northern Pike

This patterning differs from that of northern pike, which have dark bodies with light markings.

Lower Jaw Sensory Pores

A consistent way to tell these two similar species apart is by counting sensory pores on the underside of the lower jaw. Muskellunge have seven or more pores per side, while northern pike never have more than six.

Caudal Fin Shape

The lobes of the muskellunge's caudal (tail) fin end in a sharper point, compared to the generally more rounded tail lobes of the northern pike.

Operculum Scale Cover

Additionally, unlike pike, muskellunge have no scales on the lower half of their opercula.

Recreational Fishing Target

Anglers target large muskellunge as trophies or for sport.

Non-Native Disposal Guidance

In areas where muskellunge are not native, such as Maine, anglers are encouraged not to release caught muskellunge back into the water, because the species negatively impacts native populations of trout and other smaller fish.

Habitat Type

Muskellunge inhabit oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes and large rivers.

Core Native Range

Their native range stretches from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota through the Great Lakes region, Chautauqua Lake in western New York, north into Canada, throughout most of the St. Lawrence River drainage, and northward through the upper Mississippi valley.

Southern Native Range Extent

The species also extends as far south as Chattanooga in the Tennessee River valley. A small native population lives in the Broad River in South Carolina.

Stocked Populations in US South

Several reservoirs in North Georgia hold healthy stocked populations of muskellunge.

Hudson Bay Drainage Presence

They are also found in the Red River drainage of the Hudson Bay basin.

Maine Introductions

Muskellunge were introduced to the western Saint John River in the late 1960s, and have since spread to many connecting waterways in northern Maine.

Utah Hybrid Population

Pineview Reservoir in Utah is one of three locations in the state where the hybrid Tiger muskellunge occurs.

Resting Microhabitat Preference

Muskellunge prefer clear waters, where they lurk along weed edges, rock outcrops, or other structures to rest.

Seasonal Home Ranges

In summer, individual muskellunge establish two distinct home ranges: one shallow and one deep. The shallow range is generally much smaller than the deeper range, because shallow water warms to higher temperatures.

Foraging Movement

Muskellunge continually patrol both ranges to search for food under appropriate water temperature conditions.