A pike has approximately 700 teeth and little teeth in its mouth. These are razor-sharp and pointed backwards, making it difficult for prey fish to escape. The teeth are regularly replaced when they get damaged or fall out. This keeps the pike an extremely efficient predator.
Pikes are known for their impressive mouth full of teeth. On average, a pike has about 700 small and large teeth, distributed over the jaws, the palate, and the tongue. These teeth are designed to firmly grasp prey and work it inward.
How many teeth does a pike have exactly?
An adult pike has on average about 700 teeth and little teeth. These are not all the same teeth. They consist of different types:
1. Large grasping teeth
These are the long, sharp teeth in the lower jaw.
Characteristics:
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Very sharp
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Pointed backwards
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Meant to grasp prey
2. Small teeth (brush teeth)
Besides the large teeth, the pike has hundreds of small brush teeth.
These are located on:
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the palate
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the tongue
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the jaws
Function:
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hold prey
-
prevent a fish from slipping back out of the mouth
This combination makes it virtually impossible for a caught prey fish to escape.
Are pike teeth replaced?
Yes. Pike teeth regularly fall out and grow back.
This happens because:
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teeth get damaged during hunting
-
hard scales or bones can break teeth
Nature has solved this cleverly:
New teeth grow back quickly, so the pike always has an effective weapon.
This is also the reason why a pike sometimes misses teeth when you catch it.
Can a pike bite people?
Yes, but this happens very rarely.
Pikes do not see people as prey. A bite usually only happens when:
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a hand gets too close to the mouth
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the fish gets startled during unhooking
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someone holds a pike incorrectly
Tips for safely unhooking a pike
Always use the right equipment:
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long unhooking pliers
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mouth spreader
-
predator fish glove (optional)
This prevents your hands from coming near the teeth.
Important:
Never just stick your hand into a pike's mouth.
Why does a pike have so many teeth?
Pikes are pure predators. Their teeth help in hunting:
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roach
-
perch
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smaller pikes
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crayfish
-
sometimes small water birds
The teeth ensure that:
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the prey is immediately grasped
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the prey cannot escape
-
the fish is worked inward
Because the teeth are pointed backwards, a prey can almost only move deeper into the mouth.
How does a pike use its teeth during the attack?
A pike usually hunts from an ambush.
The hunting process:
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The pike lies still among plants or obstacles
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It waits until a prey fish comes close
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With an explosive sprint, it attacks
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The mouth snaps open
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The teeth grasp the prey
A pike can during such an attack cover several times its own body length in one second.
Why do pike anglers always use a steel fishing line?
Because of the sharp teeth, a pike can easily bite through normal fishing line.
That is why predator anglers use:
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titanium fishing line
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thick fluorocarbon (for finesse techniques)
This prevents your line from being cut during the fight.