Editing Muskellunge (section)

==Description==
[[File:Great Lakes Muskie.jpg|thumb|right|A spotted muskellunge caught in [[Lake St. Clair]] during winter.]]
Muskellunge closely resemble other [[esocid]]s such as the [[northern pike]] (''Esox lucius'') and [[American pickerel]] (''E. americanus'') in both appearance and behavior. Like the northern pike and other aggressive pikes, the body plan is typical of [[ambush predator]]s with an elongated body, flat head, and dorsal, pelvic, and anal [[Fish anatomy#Fins|fins]] set far back on the body. Muskellunge are typically {{convert|28|-|48|in|cm|round=5|abbr=in|order=flip}} long and weigh {{convert|15|-|36|lb|kg|round=0.5|abbr=on|order=flip}},<ref name="Michigan">{{cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/fish-species/muskie |title=DNR - Muskellunge, Esox masquinongy|website=Michigan.gov|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref> though some have reached up to {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} and almost {{convert|70|lb|kg|-1|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref name=fishbase>{{FishBase species|genus=Esox|species=masquinongy|year=2011|month=9}}</ref> Martin Arthur Williamson caught a muskellunge with a weight of {{convert|61.25|lb|kg|1|abbr=in|order=flip}} in November 2000 on [[Georgian Bay]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.fishing-worldrecords.com/scientificname/Esox%20masquinongy/show| title = Martin Arthur Williamson - Muskellunge}}</ref> The fish are a light silver, brown, or green, with dark vertical stripes on the flank, which may tend to break up into spots. In some cases, markings may be absent altogether, especially in fish from [[Turbidity|turbid]] waters. This is in contrast to northern pike, which have dark bodies with light markings. A reliable method to distinguish the two similar species is by counting the [[Canal pore|sensory pores]] on the underside of the [[mandible]]. A muskie will have seven or more per side, while the northern pike never has more than six. The lobes of the caudal (tail) fin in muskellunge come to a sharper point, while those of northern pike are more generally rounded. In addition, unlike pike, muskies have no scales on the lower half of their [[operculum (fish)|opercula]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

[[Angling|Anglers]] seek large muskies as trophies or for sport.<ref name="OL">{{cite web|url=http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin/2014/03/muskellunge-how-cast-lures-baits|title=Tactics for Fishing Early-Season Muskies|last=Heiting|first=Steve|date=March 20, 2014|publisher=Outdoor Life Magazine|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>  In places where muskie are not native, such as in Maine, anglers are encouraged not to release the fish back into the water because of their negative impact on native populations of trout and other smaller fish species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/illegal-fish-introductions/|title=Illegal Fish Introductions in Maine|access-date=April 23, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222045432/http://www.eregulations.com:80/maine/fishing/illegal-fish-introductions/}}</ref>