Northern Pike as an Invasive Species

• In south-central Alaska, which includes the city of Anchorage, northern pike threatens wild and stocked fish in area waters and is therefore considered a fair-game game fish for all-season fishing. While the species is an Alaskan native, it does not naturally swim in areas south and east of the Alaskan Mountain Range, with the exception of a population in Yakutat. A top-level predator in the fish food-chain and a species that is primarily a fish-eater, northern pike are considered invasive in south-central areas for their destruction of trout, salmon and other game fish.
  
  

Stocking

• The ADF&G's website states that Alaska lakes can be stocked only with fish species that are native to Alaska. Therefore, while northern pike may exist, they will not be introduced into the south-central area lakes, and any entity caught stocking an Alaskan lake with pike will be persecuted under the law.
  
  

Daily Limits and Size Restriction

• For all Anchorage area waters, there is no daily limit or size restrictions for northern pike, whereas other species such as trout, salmon and Arctic char are heavily protected.
  
  

Closed Areas

• On Campbell Creek, Chester Creek and University Lake, only catch-and-release fishing is allowed for all game fish. To protect rainbow trout and salmon broodstock spawning, sport fishing is closed on Ship Creek until Sept. 30 for all areas from the Chugach Power Plant Dam through Reeve Boulevard. Game fishing is also prohibited prior to July 14 for Bird Creek's mouth to the ADF&G regulation marker, and prior to July 4 on Symphony Lake.
  
  

Sand Lake

• Anchorage's Sand Lake does not contain any pike, according to the ADF&G website. The waters have been deemed pike-free and are stocked with rainbow trout and Arctic char, as of June 2010.
  
  

Fishing Licenses

• Fishing licenses for game fishing, which includes northern pike, can be purchased online at the ADF&G website. All fishers over the age of 16 must be licensed, with the year-long license fee dependent on the user's resident status, age, military personnel status and income level.