brochet

Brochet is the French common name for the northern pike (Esox lucius), a freshwater predatory fish in the family Esocidae. It is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America.

The brochet has an elongated body, a flattened snout, and sharp teeth. Its coloration varies from olive to green with lighter spots along the flanks. Adults typically range from about 0.6 to 1.2 meters, and may exceed 1.5 meters in some locales.

It inhabits lakes, rivers, and marshes with abundant aquatic vegetation. It prefers moderate to slow-moving waters where it can use cover to ambush prey.

As an apex ambush predator, the brochet feeds mainly on fish, but it will take amphibians, birds, and small mammals when available.

Breeding occurs in spring, in shallow, vegetated areas. Spawning produces adhesive eggs that form a floating mass. After hatching, fry feed on zooplankton before shifting to small fish.

Humans pursue brochet as a game fish in many regions, and regulations often cover size and catch limits. While globally widespread and listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, local populations can decline from habitat degradation and overfishing.

In cuisine, pike meat is considered firm and white when properly prepared, though it is not as widely consumed as some other freshwater species.