Hey guys,
We actually do have northern pike and chain pickerel in some waters here in California. They are considered an invasive species and are thought to be a great threat to the northern California, American River, Feather River and Sacramento delta fisheries. They were illegally introduced to Davis Lake back in the nineties apparently by fisherman, and immediately adversely affected the once famous Rainbow trout fishery there. In 2007 the DFG in fear of the Pike escaping the lake and spreading to the rest of the El Dorado drainage, and the eventual Sacramento/American rivers confluence in the Delta, treated Davis Lake with rotenone and poisoned all the fish in the lake. There was much contentious controversy and worse yet 18 months later the pike was found to still be in the lake.
Pike, Carp, Tilapia, Striped Bass, Grass carp, Squawfish, and a myriad of tropical pet fish are spreading over the state at a steady and unrelenting pace. All, affect the fisheries that they invade, wether good or not. If you catch something that you don't recognize or anyone else can't identify, take a pic and contact the DFG with the info.
bodfish