WHITE PERCH: A TRUE BASS

The white perch is a popular panfish that can be caught in fresh, brackish and salt water. It is a member of the bass family and in small sizes there is a general similarity between it and the striped bass. The perch is about 2 ½ to 3 times as long as it is deep and is more flattened, which gives it a more chunky appearance There is no space between the two dorsal fins, although they are separated by a notch. The white perch has about 48 rows of scales between the gill cover and the base of the tail whereas there are 60 or more in the striped bass. The first dorsal fin of the white perch has 9 spines and the second dorsal fin has one spine and 12 rays. The anal fin originates under the second dorsal, and the ventrals, which are armed with one stout spine on the forward margin, are located slightly behind the pectorals.

The most apparent difference between the two species is coloration. When small a white perch may have pale, longitudinal stripes similar to the striped bass, but ordinarily, and at the size perch are usually caught, no stripes are present. It’s back or dorsal surface varies from olive to blackish green, shading to a paler silvery-green on the sides and a silvery white on the belly. White perch taken in salt water or brackish water ponds are apt to be lighter in color

LIFE HISTORY

The average white perch is between 8 and 10 inches long and weighs one pound or less. In fertile New England ponds white perch reaching lengths of 15 inches and weighing two pounds are not uncommon. Three pound white perch have been taken on many occasions. Where white perch are found there are generally large populations of fish that can not be altered by anglers. The average one pound female perch will deposit up to 150,000 eggs that are immediately fertilized by the male. The survival rate of the hatchlings is high translating into large populations of fish. The State of Maine Fisheries have literally netted tons of perch from small lakes, year after year, without affecting the standing crop. This prolific spawning can cause problems as during periods of increased spawning cycles, the numbers of perch hatched can cause and overpopulation and the result will be stunted fish. White perch hatch in only a few days and the critical factor in successful hatching is that water temperatures remain constant during incubation. White perch have a long life span. Fish reaching 12 years of age are common and fish reaching the incredible age of 17 years have been recorded. Everything seems to work in favor of the white perch.

White perch inhabit fresh, brackish and salt water from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. They incur inland as far as the Great Lakes. Their range has increased during the past couple of decades because of environmental changes. The seaward distribution of white perch is more restricted that the striped bass, although they are caught in pure salt water. Schools of perch will wander in search of food but resident populations occur in any area that they inhabit. During the winter months, white perch will move to deeper waters where they will hibernate or endure the cold in a dormant state. During the spring and early summer, white perch will migrate into rivers and streams creating an important part of the sport fishery.

In the local area, fishermen head out as soon as word reaches them that the spring run has started. Armed with an assortment of baits, anglers score nicely. Bits of sea worms are the preferred bait along the Governor Dummer Academy where migrating perch are abundant and relatively easy to catch. As table fare, the white perch has a delicate flavor and is considered to be of excellent quality.

FEEDING HABITS

The State of Maine has done extensive studies on the feeding habits of the white perch and have found that their results parallel the results found in other studies conducted within their range.

The white perch, like other species of fish, will eat whatever is abundant in the area. Their diet varies according to the season. In the winter and early spring the fish root out larvae found on the bottom of ponds. As the weather warms and large mayflies start to emerge from the mud, they gorge on nymphs. During the summer months crustaceans and water fleas become abundant as do small fish of many different species. At this time the schools of white perch, once again, change their feeding preferences. By fall, white perch change their feeding habits again and show a preference for insects and crustaceans. White perch seldom venture into shallow water where small minnows are abundant but patterns indicate that white perch stay in deep water throughout the day and will move in closer to shore at sundown. In salt water habitats white perch forage on small fish of all kinds, as well as squid, crabs and shrimp. Here they bit freely on any available bait and can be caught on spinning lures or streamer flies.

ANGLING TECHNIQUES

White perch will be found over a muddy bottom and can be anywhere in the water column. As a rule, once the spring run starts present your baits along a hard, muddy bottom in 15 to 30 feet. This is where white perch will feed heavily on emerging insects. If your first are is not productive, move a short distance until you locate a school. Once discovered, the action will be fast. Keep in mind that the activity can come to an abrupt halt as the feeding school move away. During the evening trolling streamers of wet flies with or without spinners can be very effective. Spinners should be small and no more than an inch in length. They should also be very thin so that the slightest pull will activate the spinning motion needed to excite the fish. At times, even a jig will excite white perch into a feeding frenzy. Fly rod techniques require fishermen to cast the fly and allow it to drop to the bottom and then retrieve it in very short and gentle increments until it reaches the surface.

FOOD VALUE

There is no finer fish to eat than the white perch. It has firm white meat and makes a delectable fish chowder. They can be fried with your favorite coating but corn meal is a favorite among New Englanders. Another favorite among the locals is to cut the fillets into 2 or 3 inch "fingers" and dip them into a tempura batter before frying.

If you find yourself looking for some fast fishing action after the cold of a long winter, try white perch fishing. You will rapidly become hooked on this fast action fishery.