Fish, pike family
Northern pike
- Maximum length
- 150cm
- Maximum weight
- 35kg
- Best water temperature
- 10–21 °C
- Water today (4.1 °C)
- Tolerates it, but slowed down
- Fishing districts near where it occurs
- 37
About the species Northern pike
How to recognise it
Elongated body, flat broad snout with many teeth and a dorsal fin set far back. Greenish body with pale spots.
Where it lives
Overgrown shallows of reservoirs, slow rivers, oxbows and ponds, where it lies in wait near vegetation and obstacles.
What it feeds on
Fish, but also frogs and waterbirds. It will attack even prey that is half its size.
Spawning
Right after the thaw, from February to April, in flooded grass.
It is caught on artificial lures and on live or dead baitfish. Keep pliers at hand when removing it from the hook; the teeth are sharp.
Closed season, minimum size and daily limit
What the Fisheries Act says about northern pike. For guidance only; check it in the fishing regulations of the district.
Closed season
§ 10 of the Decree- 1 Jan – 31 May
this species may not be fishedoutside this period
It does not depend on the closed season for all fish by water type. You can find this and the other rules on the fishing district page in the Law and fishing rules section.
Minimum size
§ 12 of the Decree60 cm
below the size limit: return it to the waterfrom the size limit: you may keep it
You must not keep a fish shorter than 60 cm. The total length is measured from the front of the head to the end of the longest ray of the tail fin (§ 12, para. 4). The district user may raise the size; the one in the permit and the fishing regulations applies.
Daily limit
§ 14 of the Decree- 2ksGreen groupeel, carp, burbot, zander, pike, tench, barbel, lake brown trout, brown trout, grayling (combined)
The limit applies per day, also when fishing in several districts. The district user may set a lower limit in the permit, in which case the stricter one applies.
Summary of Act no. 216/2018 Coll. and Decree no. 381/2018 Coll. (as of 6 Nov 2026). It may be out of date or contain an error, and exceptions apply on some waters. The permit and the fishing regulations of the district are binding. The fishing law, rule by rule.
Water temperature and requirements
At what temperature the species is active and how well today's water suits it.
Tolerates it, but slowed downTypical water on the Slovakia is 4.1 °C today. The species tolerates this temperature (4 to 24 °C), but the water is cooler than the ideal 10 to 21 °C. Fish are slower and more selective. This temperature corresponds to spawning (4 to 10 °C). Fishing restrictions apply during the closed season.
- tolerates 4 to 24 °C
- best 10 to 21 °C
- spawning at 4 to 10 °C
- typical water today 4.1 °C
- Length
- up to 150 cm
- Weight
- up to 35 kg
- Oxygen
- Typical oxygen requirements
- Position in the food chain
- 4,5predator
The values are indicative and come from the FishBase database. In a particular water, fish behave according to the weather, air pressure, oxygen and food.
Where it was recorded
Fishing districts around which a record of this species exists (GBIF).
- OR Patkový Piesok
- OR Hámre
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 1
- Štrkovisko Adamov č. 2
- Morava č. 7b
- Štrkovisko Boričky I.
- Štrkovisko Brodské
- Štrkovisko Unín
- Čierna voda č. 1
- Dunaj č. 3
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 2
- Melioračný kanál Tvrdonice
- Štrkovisko Boričky II.
- Štrkovisko Ľadová voda – Dunajek
- Štrkovisko Ivanka pri Dunaji
- BVN Stará Tehelňa
- Štrkovisko Zelená voda 1
- Čierna voda č. 3
- Dunaj č. 3 – prívodný kanál VD
- Štrkovisko Veľký Biel
- OR Starý les (Aggerdó)
- Štrkovisko Čierny Brod
- Štrkovisko Horný Bar
- Malý Dunaj č. 4
- Štrkovisko Bernolákovo
- Delňa
- Torysa č. 2
- Čierna voda č. 4
- Kanál Malina č. 1
- Morava č. 2
- Štrkovisko na Židovkách
- Bezedné
- Vysocký kanál
- Zohorský kanál č. 1
- Štrkovisko Malé Axi
- Jazero Varjaš č. 2 pri Gabčíkove
37 fishing districts in total, 36 shown. Show on map
Similar species
Photo credits
- Northern pike: Photo: Jik jik, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Zander (pikeperch): Photo: Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Asp: Photo: Karelj, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Minimum sizes, protection periods and permitted fishing methods are set by the fishing regulations and the conditions of the specific fishing district. Check them before you fish.