Everyone knows that there are fish like pike in the rivers. But not everyone knows that there is a sea pike. In fact, this inhabitant of the deep sea got her name because of her great resemblance to her river relative. Science knows this fish by a completely different name.
Short description of the species
Sea pike is usually called a fish, the name of which is transliterated from Latin as molva. Fish (sea pike), whose appearance is similar to the appearance of an ordinary burbot that lives in freshwater reservoirs, belongs to the cod family. It has signs of sea bass and cod.
Molva has an elongated body shape, which strongly resembles a freshwater pike. That is why she got her nickname. The length of some individuals reaches a two-meter mark. The back of the fish has a marble color, and the belly is yellow-white. Molva has two varieties: blue and ordinary. One such fish weighs about 40 kg. Of course, the sea pike is a tasty prey for those who fish in the waters where it is often found.
Wednesdayhabitat
The greatest number of sea pike is found in the open ocean, in places with a rocky bottom. Molva lives in waters at a depth of 300-500 m, and sometimes 1000. Malek swims a little closer to the surface of the water, without going deeper than 100 m under the water.
The habitat of this fish includes the entire coast of Western Europe. It can also be found in southern Greenland and the western Mediterranean. A special concentration of molva is observed in the waters off the coast of Sweden, Iceland, Norway and in the North Sea near the British Isles.
Nutrition and reproduction
The sea pike is a predatory fish. Its diet includes starfish, crayfish, herring, flounder and cod fish species. A female is considered sexually mature if it has reached 80 cm in length, and a male, which has a length of at least one meter. But how does the breeding process of the sea pike work?
Spawning usually begins in March, when the water temperature rises to +7 degrees. The female is able to lay up to 6 million small eggs. Most of all, molva likes to spawn in the waters of the British Isles. From each egg, about one millimeter in size, a larva hatches, the size of which is slightly more than three millimeters. After that, the fry will stay near the bottom for another three years.
Pike fishing
Many countries of Western Europe are engaged in catching molva. Its meat is highly valued in cooking for its pleasant taste and great nutritional benefits for humans. Half of all catches are sold fresh or frozen, andthe other half is cured for sale in southern Europe, where it is very rare.
The main supplier of sea pike is Norway, where it is caught all year round. Catching this fish involves the use of equipment for professional deep sea fishing. However, it is often possible to catch this fish on amateur bottom gear and sea spinning. For bait, mackerel or herring are most often used.
Sea pike is a very tasty and he althy fish. If you ever have a chance to taste it, try to enjoy the taste of its tender meat. And do not worry about the decrease in the fish population - remember that one molva can lay up to 6,000,000 eggs.
