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Can You Eat Northern Pike and How Does it Taste?

Depending on what part of the world you’re fishing in, northern pike is either a delicacy sought after by many or a garbage-fish the locals are begging you to catch and keep.

northern pike in a net

Either way, they’re a heck of a good time to catch, and delicious when prepared correctly.

Do People Eat Pike?

There are some tricks you need to know before taking one of these lake monsters to your fillet table.

northern pike fillet on a plate

Once you land your first legal-to-keep pike, you probably won’t be thinking, “wow, this fish looks tasty.”

Sure, they have the typical spine and ribcage you would pull out of any fish in the fillet process, but they are also full of much smaller bones that are hard to detect.

Yes, pike is a delicious tasting fish if you prepare it the right way.

Is Pike Fishy?

Pike are slimy, full of razor-sharp teeth, and have a distinct smell that you will also take on for the rest of the day once your skin or clothes come into contact with the fish.

So, is pike good to eat?  Yes, its actually tasty and there are many recipes for pike.

The main thing you need to be cautious about in eating northern pike is the bones. Bones in a pike are unlike many other fish.

Filleting the pike to remove and avoid the massive number of bones is the key to enjoying the meat or spending your dinner picking bones from your mouth.

Check out this post on How to Fillet a Pike

Is Pike Safe to Eat?

We’d say so, as the options for cooking pike are endless.

raw northern pike steaks, fresh fish prepared for grilling or frying

From simply frying in butter with some lemon and herbs, to more complex recipes like pike chili, the possibilities for preparing these fish only go as far as your imagination.

Once your pike is eaten, you have the perfect excuse to go out and catch another one!

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