by Dr. F. Douglas Martin

The Grass or Redfin Pickerel, often referred to by fishermen as “jacks” or “jackfish,” has a wide distribution occurring from southern Quebec to Florida and from the East Coast to the Brazos River drainage in Texas and the Missouri River in Nebraska.  While smaller than its cousins, the Northern Pike and Muskellunge, it is likewise a voracious ambush predator feeding on any fish or crawfish that wander by. These morsels of prey can be swallowed whole, and are often quite larger in size than one might imagine.

To learn more visit: http://www.fishesoftexas.org/taxa/esox-americanus

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 Illustration: Joseph Tomelleri