I went fishing today on Lake Monroe (part of the St. Johns River). I caught three large bowfin and a 20" pike or chain pickerel. Florida Fish and Game was out there checking licenses and coolers. The guy didn't clarify which one it was but mentioned I should carry an identification guide on board. I didn't keep the bowfins but gave serious thoughts about setting up another bowfin tank. I wanted to keep the pike alive and putting a bowfin in the cooler seemed like a death sentence for the pike. It made it home fine but thrashed just after I put him in my tank. It knocked the center brace pretty hard and stunned itself really bad. It wasn't doing too well and when I checked on it at midnight, it had died. 
The pike measured 20.25" and the largest bowfin was in the range of 28-34". They were out of the water for a long time so getting them back in took precedence over measuring them.
The pike measured 20.25" and the largest bowfin was in the range of 28-34". They were out of the water for a long time so getting them back in took precedence over measuring them.
