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🐠 Pike
The UK's largest widespread freshwater predator, an apex hunter in most waters it inhabits and a dedicated specialist target in its own right through the winter months.
Identification
Long, torpedo-shaped body built for explosive bursts of speed, with a duck-bill-shaped snout full of sharp teeth. Colouring is typically olive-green to greenish-yellow with pale, bean-shaped spots along the flanks, providing effective camouflage among weed.
UK habitat
Widespread across UK rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs. Prefers to lurk near weed beds, overhanging cover or drop-offs where it can ambush prey. Pike fishing is traditionally a fenced-off, licence-and-club-rules affair in winter once the coarse close season protects spawning fish elsewhere.