1.1 THE PIKE

Pike or Northern Pike, scientific name Esox lucius is a streamlined Predatory freshwater fish whose origin can be dated back thirty million years from fossil evidence. Pike can be found in most of Irelands rivers and lakes living in harmony with other species as an important part of the freshwater ecosystem. The pikes physical characteristics have changed little through the ages and their efficient design has helped them survive the events that rendered the dinosaurs and many other prehistoric species extinct. These characteristics include green and yellow body markings to disguise the Pike the weeds, streamlined body together with dorsal and anal fins set back near the tail to give maximum power to shoot after its prey, eyes set forward in the head to give a degree of binocular vision helping to judge distance more accurately and powerful jaws coupled with sharp teeth pointed back in the mouth to prevent prey from escaping its grip.

The maximum life span of Pike is around 15 years and the official Irish rod caught record is 42 lb. The largest Pike recorded in Ireland was 90 ½ lb. in weight and 5'-6" long in 1862, however no reliable authentication exists. The larger fish are females or 'Hen' fish and the smaller males typically reach a maximum weight of 10 lb. Pike are a relatively fast growing species and a typical 20 lb. fish could be as young as six years old. Pike are lone opportunistic hunters and are not territorial they often share hunting grounds with other similar size Pike. As a preference, Pike will feed on excess in the young Pike population plus the weak and deceased of other species to reduce the hunting effort thus helping to maintain a perfect balance in the ecosystem. Mature Pike tend to lie in the deeper holes in a fishery and normally only move to open water engage in hunting. The clear alkaline waters of limestone lakes and connecting rivers produce the larger fish while more acid colored or boggy waters tend to produce smaller fish. Irish Pike normally spawn between February and April depending on water temperature, and move into shallow grassy or weedy bays to lay their eggs. Males accompany the females to fertilise the eggs and many themselves become a meal for the ravenous females when the spawning process is completed.

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1.2 HISTORY OF PIKE IN IRELAND

The research by Frank Barbe and Shane Garrett titled "The Pike in Ireland: A (Necessary) Review" casts indisputable doubt on the introduction theory currently used as a reason for culling/transferring pike on some Irish waters. This research, which took over a year to compile is comprehensive and fully supports the wish of Irish Pike Anglers that the pike species is now assigned the status of "indigenous species".
A copy of the research is included in the appendix.

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1.3 GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF PIKE IN IRELAND

Pike are present in lakes and rivers in almost all counties in Ireland where suitable waters are present. The only areas where there are no pike are the extreme northwest, west and southwest.

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1.4 CURRENT STATUS OF PIKE STOCKS

We are convinced that pike stocks have decreased dramatically over the last 30 years. We are particularly concerned over the sharp decline in specimen-sized pike. In the few areas where there may be good stocks pike are small and this may be as a result of the lack of larger pike to prey on them.

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1.5 BIOLOGY OF PIKE STOCKS

The extract below is taken from an article by Dr Bruno Broughton on the scientific basis for pike culls. Further information is available on www.pacgb.com.

General Comments On Management Principles:
There are a wide variety of physical, chemical and biological factors, which influence fish populations in exploited fisheries.

Where both predators and prey are present, factors which increase fish numbers include:-
· immigration
· natural recruitment (successful spawning)
· stocking, be it planned, accidental or illegal.

Factors which decrease fish numbers include:-
· emigration
· pollution
· disease and parasitism
· 'natural' mortalities
· predation - by the same species, other fish or other animals
· removals, either deliberate (cropping/culling) or theft
· angling, through deliberate or accidental actions.

In assessing the reason(s) for changes in the status or composition of fish populations it is important that each of these factors is considered. All too often, those charged with managing fisheries draw cause-and-effect conclusions based on prejudice, hearsay or inadequate data. Historically, the persecution of pike in British fisheries was a case in point, based on the fallacious notion that if left to their own devices, the pike would eat all of the other species to extinction.
With improved knowledge and its wider dissemination to anglers, attitudes have changed rapidly in the last few decades. It is fair to state that the far greater protection afforded to pike has not been accompanied by a decline in the quality of fishing for non-pike species.
Were this not the case, there would undoubtedly be a substantial groundswell of angling opinion in favour of rescinding pike conservation measures and resuming widespread pike culls... which there is not. Scientists and anglers in many other countries, notably in some other western European nations and in North America, share this more enlightened attitude to pike.

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