Pike
Esox lucius
Kosher
Has fins and scales
Fins
Yes
Scales
Yes
Description
The northern pike, also known as jack, northern or simply pike, is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox (pikes). It is commonly found in fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere.
Northern pike has mild white flesh with a long culinary history. Larger fish are filleted, while smaller ones are often ground into forcemeat to handle the many fine bones, then used in quenelles and fish mousses.
Northern pike range across the Northern Hemisphere in fresh water, through Russia, Europe, and North America from Maine to Alaska. They favor sluggish streams and shallow, weedy spots in lakes and reservoirs, and are rarely found in brackish water except around the Baltic Sea.
Also known as
- Northern Pike
- Jackfish
- Great Northern Pike
- Slough Shark
- Gator
- Hammer Handle
Kosher Pike in foreign languages
| Scientific | Esox lucius |
| Hebrew | זאב נהרות צפוני |
| Arabic | كراكي رمحي |
| Spanish | Lucio |
| French | brochet |
| Italian | luccio |
| German | Hecht |
| Greek | Λούτσος των ποταμών |
| Russian | щука |
| Turkish | Kuzey Turna balığı |
| Chinese | 白斑狗魚 |
| Japanese | ノーザンパイク |
| Korean | 강꼬치고기 |
| Vietnamese | Cá chó phương bắc |
Gallery
Warnings & Kosher Issues
- Northern pike has fins and scales, so it is kosher.
- Resembles the muskellunge. Pike show light markings on a dark body, the reverse of the muskellunge's pattern.
- The flesh is bony, so smaller fish are often processed into forcemeat rather than filleted.