Yea, I agree. We hear and see all of the time several 50lb bass taken every year, but a Pike in that range could be a record. Pike generally average in the 10lb category. Nonetheless, a great catch when live minnow fishing for crappie.
I caught a few pike in my day. Biggest about 10 lbs. Mostly from ice fishing. Comparing it to striper fishing is kinda like apples to oranges. Aesthetically I like fishing on the ocean over a lake. More options and more area to cover. You can't beat the feeling of hooking up with a cow bass at night.