Being of a somewhat fishy disposition, (to say the least) it is often piscatorial happenings on the reserves that tickle my particular fancy - and if said fish is of considerable size with teeth to match then so much the better.
The mighty pike is the undisputed top piscine predator of in British fresh waters, (ignoring the claims of the potentially much larger but non-native wells catfish) and – when grown to maturity - master of all she surveys from the reedy, rushy margins in which they lurk. Perfectly camouflaged with green and brown and silver streaks they can disappear from view, as a tiger does in the jungle, awaiting the moment to assail their unwitting prey. As per the tiger their lunge is fast and deadly; their snaggle-toothed maw often the last thing the unwary rudd or roach will ever see.
We do from time to time see smaller pike caught by herons and they also feature highly in our electro-fishing catches. True ‘outsized’ specimens however are seldom seen as they keep their own council in the knotted roots and overhanging branches of willows, biding their time, preserving their energy for that sudden, savage strike.
Regular visitor and keen photographer Adrian Dunk was lucky to witness some fairly unusual pike behaviour on Radipole this week. Standing near the tennis courts he pictured this huge female pike, (all large pike are female) seemingly taking a peek above the surface.
I am baffled as to why she should be doing this and invite suggestions from more learned pike watchers. They are known to opportunistically feed on ducklings but it seems fanciful to suggest that she may be peeking above the murk in search of feathered fare.
I was fortunate to spend a year working in the Western Cape of South Africa in the 1990’s on boats filming and researching (great) white sharks and it wasn’t uncommon to see a shark glide beside a fur seal rookery with one eye above water – seemingly on the hunt for pup to whisk away. It does seem far fetched to suggest this pike was attempting something similar but underestimate the adaptability of wildlife at your peril. The number of 'gospel truths’ about white sharks which have been debunked in the past 20 years is vast… just maybe the humble pike is awaiting its moment to reveal new complexities that have been overlooked for centuries?