Chain Pickerel

Photo: flickr user daisybush

About

A species of freshwater fish in the pike family found along the eastern coast of North America from southern Canada to Florida, and west to Texas. Common nicknames in the southeastern United States are the southern pike and jack fish. Like all pike, the chain is edible, but you must clean them properly to remove the many small bones.

Information

Other names: Jack fish, Southern pike

Translations: Ķēdes līdaciņa, Grandinės Līdaciņa, Lanţul peştişor, Lanac Pickerel, Chuỗi cá măng nhỏ, Sieć Pickerel, श्रृंखला मीठे पानी की एक प्रकार की मछली, Cadeia Pickerel, Сеть Пикерел, Αλυσίδα λύκος, سلسلة البيكيلر, 체인 꼬치 고기류, Řetězce Pickerel, Ланац Пицкерел, Chain pikerel, 链皮克雷尔, Cadena Pickerel, Verige Pickerel, Reťazca Pickerel, Catena Pickerel, שרשרת Pickerel, Chain UNGGÄDDA, Rantai Pickerel, チェーンピクレル, Maillé, Chain Gedden spiler, Cadena Pickerel, Мережа Пікерел, Mustahauki, Верига млада щука

Physical Description

The chain pickerel is named because of its distinctive chain-like shape. It is long.

Colors: Yellowish green with green on sides

Tasting Notes

Flavors: Umami! One of the best tasting fish.

Mouthfeel: Juicy, Savory

Food complements: Cheese, Tomatoes, Spices

Wine complements: Muscat

Beverage complements: Cognac

Substitutes: Baleyrel

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: june, july, august, september

Peak: august, september

Choosing: Freshly angled or cultured. Also, preserved in fresh water aquarium.

Buying: You can buy chain pickerel at your local farmer's market or seafood grocery aisle.

Procuring: Summer and Autumn season are good times to find these in freshwater lakes.

Preparation and Use

Chain pickerel is great for a barbeque! They can also be cut into filets and cooked on a pan until golden brown. You should season it well! They can also be smoked if you like that smokey, savory kind of flavor.

Cleaning: Clean the fish by getting rid of all the scales. Then cut it in half to get rid of the spine that is inside. You should also cut off the head and the tail.