Help Manage our Muskellunge

Did You Know?

• Both male and female muskellunge can live to be over 30 years of age?
• Female muskellunge usually reach maturity at age 5, males typically one year earlier?
• Female muskellunge can add 30% of their body mass in eggs prior to spawning?
• Females grow much faster and larger than males?
• Muskellunge populations can have a broad range of growth rates and ultimate sizes?
• Theoretically female muskellunge can grow to 68 inches and 73¼ pounds?
• Muskellunge have three types of colour patterns: spotted, barred, and clear (or emaculate)?
• Muskellunge and northern pike can easily be separated by scale shape and surface features?
• Muskellunge, northern pike, and their hybrid can be identified and separated by the shape of the cleithral bone (see Casselman et al. 1986)?
• The cleithral bone of muskellunge and northern pike are almost exactly 1/10 the length of the fish (Casselman 1996)?