Northern Ontario boy reels in massive catch while ice fishing

An eight-year-old northern Ontario boy is bragging about making the biggest catch of his life after reeling in a massive fish while ice fishing last weekend.

Kace Amyotte was out on frozen Lake Nipissing in North Bay on Jan. 27 with his family when he caught a pike measuring 39 inches (99 cm) and 14.4 pounds using a jig and a minnow.

Kyle Amyotte holds the massive pike his 8-year-old son Kace caught ice fishing on Lake Nipssing. Jan. 27/24 (Robynn Amyotte)

Larger than the average northern pike, the fish was almost as tall as the Grade 3 boy, who stands about four feet tall.

Male pike usually average in size between 11-27 inches while females average 19-30 inches.

He was very excited about his catch, screaming and spending the day boasting about it, his mom Robynn Amyotte told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an online interview.

Normally, anglers would not be able to keep a fish of that size, as the limit is about 33 inches (86 cm).

However, due to their Indigenous status, they were able to keep and eat the fish, Robynn said.

"Members of Indigenous communities generally do not require an outdoors card and Ontario fishing licence and are not required to follow the corresponding seasons, limits, slot sizes and gear restrictions, when fishing for food, social or ceremonial purposes within their traditional or treaty territory," a spokesperson for the Ontairo Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry confirmed in an email to CTV News.

"Members of Indigenous communities fishing outside of their traditional or treaty area must hold a valid fishing licence and follow the corresponding seasons, limits, slot sizes and gear restrictions, or have permission from a First Nation to fish within their traditional or treaty territory (R v. Shipman et al., 2007)."

While Kace has helped clean fish, she said, he did not help with this one because he opted to stay overnight out on the ice with his grandparents.

The family had it breaded and fried for dinner on Monday with fries and tartar sauce.

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Despite the late start to the ice fishing season due to mild temperatures, Robynn said the fishing has been great and better than expected so far this year.

Last year, Lake Nipissing was named Canada's best ice fishing destination by FishingBooker – a website that helps anglers plan their next fishing trip.

The lake contains 44 different species of fish including bass, yellow perch, walleye and northern pike.