Nothing wrong with Pike they taste good. A bit of an issue to fillet but take your time.
Nothing wrong with Pike they taste good. A bit of an issue to fillet but take your time.
Wow guys this really took off, great discussion thanks. I think that its kinda a grey area but probably ok as long as it is not intentional.
As for eating them. I pulled a 6 lbs pike through the ice this winter and it was delicious second to perch in my books (havent had walleye yet)!! it was the 3rd fish i cleaned and it was not easy to fillet but well worth it.
No doubt about it pike is good meat , most could not tell the difference between pike or walleye if I cooked up a mixed batch in my old cast iron skillet.
Another grey area scenario that is governed by your personal code of ethics. Personally, I would not keep the pike, but, it would not offend me if someone did.
Pike are great tablefare if one knows how to clean them.
They need to be 5-6 pounds to make it worth it though.
I asked the question online to the MNR and two weeks later this is the answer to the exact question of the OP:
"It would not be legal for you to keepthat pike if it was not hooked in the mouth. Double headers do occur, but ifyou did not put the sunfish on the hook for use as bait and you did not leaveit on there after casting and use it as bait, there is little that can be done.Do what you can to shake the other fish if this scenario happens and switch toa large baitfish or a spoon for the pike OR continue to fish for other species."
Sounds like someone doesn't kwon much..... Since, I asked to show me where in the regs. it stipulate that a fish need to be hooked to be kept, I'll let you know.....