Not so much a whodunnit as a wotdunnit.

Chris and the mutilated pike

Bleeding lacerations

These pictures show a 15lb pike which snapped up a drifted deadbait on a gravel pit near Norwich.

When netted by King’s Lynn-based piker Chris Bishop it was bleeding profusely from fresh wounds on each flank.

“At first we thought the fish had been attacked by another pike.” Chris said.

But it swam off strongly

“The lake concerned has reputedly done fish to 35lb-plus in recent seasons.” He added.

“Looking at the marks though, they just didn’t seem right. Instead of adiscernable jaw shape, the injuries are long slashes – deep enough inplaces to expose bare flesh.

“If the fish had come from the Ouse, I’d have suspected a seal attack, but there are no seals in the Wensum, which runs near the pit.”

There are otters and no doubt mink along the river, but would either attack a pike of this size?

After being held and coaxed for a few minutes, the fish swam off strongly.

Can anyone account for these marks..?