Tiger muskellunge (female muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, x male northern pike, E. lucius) 14.5 cm long were reared for 45 days in a three‐pass (pass I, II, and III) water reuse system. Cumulative growth rates for the fish were 0.143 cm/day in the first use of the water (pass I), 0.125 in the second use (pass II), and 0.108 in the third use (pass III). Food conversions were poorer in passes II and III. Survival offish in each pass was good and no abnormal mortalities or disease problems were encountered. Dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and pH data indicated that oxygen consumption and ammonia production had daily minimum values between 0200 and 0600 h and maximum values between 1600 and 2000 h. Maximum un‐ionized ammonia levels of 0.0172 mg/L were recorded in pass III. Average daily oxygen consumption and ammonia production rates were 97 g oxygen per kilogram of food fed (97 g oxygen/per 3400 kcal) and 6 g ammonia per kilogram of food fed and were substantially lower than corresponding rates reported for salmonids.
Catch and Release Muskie Fishing – Let Them Go – Let Them Grow