Thanks for the clarification.
So it can be my personal record northern pike - the smallest!!
Nice... Actually never knew about grass pickerel. Google for images and wow.
Looks like mini Pike to me. Must be some sort of cross breeding
There are 4 species of Esox in Ontario:
Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus)
Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)
Northern Pike is most widely distributed in Ontario. Muskellunge is not as wide spread but still available across large areas of Ontario. Grass Pickerel are limited to small pockets within Ontario. Chain Pickerel is perhaps the most limited but their population is slowly spreading.
All of these Esox species may naturally interbred to produce hybrids to very small degree, if the two species occurs within the same area and the spawning period overlaps slightly. Crosses between Northern Pike and Muskellunge is perhaps the most commonly known (Tiger Muskie), but crosses have also been found between Northern Pike x Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike x Grass Pickerel.
However, Grass Pickerel is NOT a cross breed but a pure genetic species.