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The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: tiger muskellunge

Synonyms and Other Names: tiger musky

Identification: See the account for Esox lucius in Page and Burr (1991); characteristics and photographs of this hybrid were given in Crossman and Buss (1965) and in Buss and Miller (1967).

Size: 16.1 kg

Native Range: A natural and artificial hybrid. Hybridization occurs in nature where the two species' ranges overlap, in the northeastern and western Great Lakes regions (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: Intentionally stocked for sport fishing in most locations. In some areas the hybrid occurs "naturally" after stocking northern pike in native muskellunge waters (Becker 1983). Although the male tiger muskellunge are sterile, females are often fertile and are capable of backcrossing (Becker 1983). Hartel et al. (1996) suggested individuals collected in Massachusetts were a result of stock contamination.

Status: Maintained by stocking in most cases. In some areas, such as many lakes in Wisconsin, the population is maintained by natural hybridization when northern pike are stocked in native muskellunge waters (Becker 1983). Hartel et al. (1996) report only one or two individuals collected in Massachusetts.

Impact of Introduction: This hybrid probably affects smaller fish species through predation. It also is capable of backcrossing. Male tiger muskellunge are always sterile, but females are often fertile (Becker 1983).

Remarks: Tiger muskellunge have not been stocked in Oklahoma (Pigg, personal communication) or Tennessee (T. Churchill, personal communication). Koenig et al. (2015) examined the ability of stocked Tiger Muskellunge to reduce or eradicate Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in high alpine lakes in Idaho, finding >90% reduction in brook trout catch per unit effort in tiger muskellunge-stocked lakes with 0-1 inlets or outlets.

References: (click for full references)

Anonymous. 1994b. Fishes of the Dakotas. Brochure. American Fisheries Society Dakota Chapter, and North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Madison Press Madison, WI. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/EcoNatRes.FishesWI.

Bouc, K. 1987. The fish book. Nebraskaland Magazine 65(1):1-130.

Buss, K., and J. Miller. 1967. Interspecific hybridization of esocids: hatching success, pattern development, and fertility of some F1 hybrids. Technical Papers of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 14:1-30.

Carter, A. - Fisheries Division, Arkansas Game and Fish Comission, Little Rock, AR. Response to NBS-G nonindigenous questionaire. 1992.

Crossman, E. J., and K. Buss. 1965. Hybridization in the family Esocidae. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 22(5):1261-1292.

Fletcher, D. - Warmwater Fisheries Resource Manager, Washington Department of Wildlife, Olympia, WA. Response to NBS-G nonindigenous questionaire and other reports. 1992.

Hanten, R.L. - Department. of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD. Response to NBS-G nonindigenous questionaire.

Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, IA. 323 pp.

Hartel, K. E. 1992. Non-native fishes known from Massachusetts freshwaters. Occasional Reports of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Fish Department, Cambridge, MA. 2. September. pp. 1-9.

Hartman, B. - Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, KS.

Holton, G. D. 1990. A field guide to Montana fishes. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT. 104 pp.

Horak, D. - Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO. 1995.

Idaho Fish and Game. 1990. Fisheries Management Plan 1991-1995. Appendix I: A list of Idaho fishes and their distribution by drainage. Idaho Fish and Game.

International Game Fish Association. 1994. World record game fishes. International Game Fish Association, Pompano Beach, FL.

Jenkins, R. E., and N. M. Burkhead. 1994. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.

Koenig, M.K., K.A. Meyer, J.R. Kozfkay, J.M. DuPont, and E.B. Schriever. 2015. Evaluating the ability of Tiger Muskellunge to eradicate Brook Trout in Idaho alpine lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 35(4):659-670. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02755947.2015.1035467

Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.

Luebke, R. W. 1978. Evaluation of a multi-predator introduction. Federal Aid Project F-31-R-4.

Martin, C. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. Dover, DE. Response to NBS-G mailing on non-indigenous species. 1992.

Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO.

Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Raasch, M. S., and V. L. Altemus, Sr. 1991. Delaware's freshwater and brackish water fishes - a popular account. Delaware State College for the Study of Del-Mar-Va Habitats and the Society of Natural History of Delaware. 166 pp. 

Starnes, W.C., J. Odenkirk, and M.J. Ashton. 2011. Update and analysis of fish occurrences in the lower Potomac River drainage in the vicinity of Plummers Island, Maryland—Contribution XXXI to the natural history of Plummers Island, Maryland. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 124(4):280-309.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2001. Fish Records: Water Body - All Tackle. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. April 24, 2001

Walker, P. - Colorado Division of Wildlife, Brush, CO.

Whittier, T. R., D. B. Halliwell and R. A. Daniels. 2000. Distributions of lake fishes in the Northeast - II. The Minnows (Cyprinidae). Northeastern Naturalist. 7(2): 3- 131-156.

Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet - Esox lucius

FishBase Fact Sheet - Esox masquinongy

Author: Pam Fuller, and Matt Neilson

Peer Review Date: 9/30/2015

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.