Pike attack

[salmotrutta]

Anyone know what may have caused these gashes on this pike?

I see a very large osprey patrolling the area in which I caught it, as well as great blue herons. There are also huge pike there, gar pike, and the odd muskie.

 

[chris f]

nice pike salmotrutta, don't know wich one gave him those scars, but it could posibly be any of the ones you mentioned.Maybe somone else will recognize those scars/wounds from a fish they caught with simiar gashes.

 

[rich_ace_G]

Salmo, how long did you stay fishing? You probably missed the bigger badder pike that did that. I know they eat their kind. you had a nice pike cut bait on your hands...PM if you don't mind sharing that spot too.

 

[apz245]

Salmo, how long did you stay fishing? You probably missed the bigger badder pike that did that. I know they eat their kind. you had a nice pike cut bait on your hands...PM if you don't mind sharing that spot too.

Imagine the pike that tried to take a chunk out of that (the pike in the picture looks to be about 2 feet long so i'd imagine a pike would have to be 3-4 feet to attack him)

I'd like to think it was a pike, but I think more likely a predatory bird, all speculation though on my part

 

[Bassassins]

How long did you fight the fish?? A few weeks back I caught a pike that size and was letting it ware itself out/set up my gopro when i felt a VERY large tug... much bigger then the fight fish has been giving. When I reeled it in there were similar marks on its back half. Next cast to the same spot I had a very large muskie smash my lure - missed it on the hook set but got to see what left those marks.

Smooth

 

[salmotrutta]

How long did you fight the fish?? A few weeks back I caught a pike that size and was letting it ware itself out/set up my gopro when i felt a VERY large tug... much bigger then the fight fish has been giving. When I reeled it in there were similar marks on its back half. Next cast to the same spot I had a very large muskie smash my lure - missed it on the hook set but got to see what left those marks.

Smooth

I never thought of that, that's very possible. I didn't fight it for long. It took a few good runs, leaped straight out of the water with a couple head shakes/thrashes, and I brought it in. My drag wasn't set very tight at all, so I could see a larger fish trying to grab it and causing those wounds, going unnoticed by me.

I was leaning towards some bird of prey being the culprit.

 

[alwayscatching]

The looks of the cut seem to be just a typical fish on fish battle. A lot of smaller pike will have those gashes on them. Osprey wont really go that often for a fish that is approx 2 feet in length but still possible. I know a lot of smaller pike to get hit by bigger pike or muskie. Either a hunger reason or sometimes they are known to strike out of defense.

 

[rayray519]

Perhaps even propeller scars?

 

[jmmartin]

i just love the fight of the pike next to the trout of course. i love the pike because it doesn't seem to serface. so, its hard to judge the size. i've never caught a muskie. how is the fight?