1. Utah officials breed successful tiger muskies
2. Utah officials successfully breed sharp-toothed fish.

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Utah Officials Celebrate Success of Breeding Tiger Muskies in the State

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR, Utah (ABC4) — After two years of testing, Utah officials are excited to announce the successful breeding of tiger muskies, a non-native fish species in Utah.

Tiger muskies, known for their sharp teeth and intimidating appearance, are a hybrid fish that results from crossing a northern pike with a muskellunge.

While they may not be the most popular fish at first glance, the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has been working diligently to breed and raise tiger muskies in the state.

Since 1988, tiger muskies have been stocked in Utah’s waters to help manage fish populations by feeding on unwanted fish species. As a sterile fish, tiger muskies play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem without overpopulating the waters.

Eddie Hanson, the manager of Fountain Green Hatchery, explains, “They can forage on those unwanted fish without the need for chemicals or treatments. Additionally, they offer a unique sport fishing opportunity specific to each water body.”

The journey to successfully breed tiger muskies in Utah was not without its challenges. For years, hatcheries attempted to produce tiger muskies by crossbreeding northern pike eggs with male muskellunge milt. However, they faced limitations in obtaining enough ripe northern pike females.

To overcome this obstacle, biologists turned to using female muskellunge and male northern pikes instead. This change allowed hatcheries to access a greater number of male northern pikes, which could provide milt at a younger age. As a result, Utah has achieved successful tiger muskie production since 2021.

Since then, the DWR has successfully produced, raised, and stocked over 85,000 tiger muskies using the new crossbreeding method involving female muskellunge.

Not only do tiger muskies help control fish populations in local reservoirs, but they also provide an exciting challenge for anglers. These fish are renowned for their size, with the state record standing at a massive 53 ¼” caught at Pineview Reservoir in 1998.

However, catching a tiger muskie is no easy feat. “I think there’s always that pride in being able to accomplish something that’s a bit of a challenge,” Hanson says. “You have to really have a desire to go and catch a tiger muskie.”

As Utah celebrates the success of breeding tiger muskies, both wildlife enthusiasts and anglers can look forward to the continued benefits these unique fish bring to the state’s waters.

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Utah officials successful breed tiger muskies
Utah officials breed tiger muskies successfully.