The muskie, or more formally, the muskellunge
is a game fish native to North America. It's scientific
name, Esox masquinongy, betrays its close relationship
to the northern pike, Esox lucius, which is found across
the northern hemisphere. These and three other species
comprise the family Esocidae, all of which are top or
terminal predators in the waters they inhabit. The geographic
range of the muskie in North America is far more restricted
than that of the northern pike. Indeed muskie inhabit
only about one percent of North America's fresh water.
In the waters shared by the two species, muskies tend
to be outnumbered by pike. This comparative rarity is
one of the challenges of musky fishing. Another is their
size and fighting ability. Muskies can reach weights
of just under 70 pounds (although rumors of larger fish
persist) and the sight of even a much smaller fish thrashing
around at the boat side unforgettable.
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