Freshwater Fish - Species

Chain pickerel (Esox niger) - Native

Description: (Anatomy of a Fish)

The chain pickerel is a narrowly elongated fish with a duckbill snout that is long and narrow.  The body is olive green in color with rows of a chainlike pattern along the side.  A black bar streams straight down from the eye. 

Range:  Common statewide, except for Broad River system

Average Length:  14-15 inches

Average Size:  12-14 ounces

South Carolina State Record: 6 pounds 4 ounces (1981)

Life Expectancy: Approximately 8 or 9 years

Preferred Habitat

Chain pickerels are found in heavily vegetated areas of sluggish or slow moving rivers, streams, swamps and lakes. 

Food Habits

• Fish

Spawning

• Chain pickerel spawn when water temperatures approach 45°F, during March and April.  However, they may be fall spawners in the coastal plain. 
• One female will be joined by one or two males in submerged vegetation. 
• Once the eggs are fertilized, they will stick to the aquatic vegetation and other submerged substrate where they incubate until they hatch unattended. 

Miscellaneous

This popular sport fish of coastal plain backwaters and streams is well adapted for its ambush-type feeding behavior.  Its body and mouth shape are perfectly designed for capturing and consuming other fish.  Chain pickerel have been known to capture and attempt to consume fish equal to their own size.  Chain pickerel will usually maintain a motionless posture, resembling a drifting stick.  This unanimated behavior reduces its detection by prey (other fish) allowing the pickerel the advantage of surprise.  Although they have many small bones, they are a good fish to eat. 

Commonly Mistaken Species

One species of fish that is commonly mistaken for this species:

Literature Cited