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White Perch
Species Information
| Scientific Name: | Morone americana |
| Common Names: | white perch |
| Environment: | Lake, River, Inshore |
| Ideal Temp: | 50-64°F (10-18°F) |
About White Perch
The white perch (Morone americana) is not a true perch but is a fish of the temperate bass family, Moronidae, notable as a food and game fish in eastern North America. In some places it is referred to as "Silver Bass".
White perch are silver-green to olive in color. The underside of their lower jaw is often purple. Depending upon habitat and size specimens have begun to develop a darker shade near the dorsal fin and along the top of the fish. This sometimes earns them the nickname "black-back". The spiny and soft dorsal fins are joined by a membrane. The anal fin contains three spines; the second spine is thicker than the first and almost as long as the third. There are no teeth on the tongue of the white perch.
White perch have been reported up to 49.5 cm (19.5 in) in length and weighing 2.2 kg (4.9 lb). Average length is 6-9 inches and less than 1 pound, most landlocked specimens less than 1/3 pound.
White perch are a schooling species that are semi-anadromous, meaning they move between estuarine and fresh waters to spawn. From April to June, when water temperatures average 50-60°F, white perch migrate from estuarine waters into large rivers where females release up to 150,000 adhesive eggs. Populations that are locked within reservoirs do not follow this pattern, but instead migrate within the reservoir. Immediately following the laying of the eggs, males release millions of sperm cells. In spite of this haphazard spawning ritual, the ratio of hatched eggs is enormous when compared to other fish. The young hatch within one to six days of fertilization.
Although favoring brackish waters, it is also found in fresh water and coastal areas from the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario south to the Pee Dee River in South Carolina, and as far east as Nova Scotia. They are also found in the lower Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, Long Island Sound and nearby coastal areas, Hudson and Mohawk River system, Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay. It is also found occasionally in small land-locked lakes and ponds.
They have a diverse diet including worms, shrimp, crabs, insects and small fishes. White perch are known to eat the eggs of many species native to the Great Lakes, such as walleye and other true perches. At times, fish eggs are 100% of their diet. They prefer to eat small minnows like mud minnows and fathead minnows. In the Chesapeake Bay, white perch commonly prey upon grass shrimp, razor clams, and bloodworms which are all common to the region.
Some states consider the white perch to be a nuisance species due to its ability to destroy fisheries. They have been associated with the declines in both walleye and white bass populations because they feed heavily on baitfish used by those species and outcompete them for food and space. Many states have enacted laws forbidding possession of live white perch. Additionally, these states recommend not releasing captured white perch back into the water to help control its spread.
White Perch Fishing
| World Record: | 1.59 kg (3 lb 8 oz) Wachusett Reservoir, Massachusetts, USA 16-Oct-2016 |
| # Fish Caught: | 674827 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 1/1/1847 12:00:00 AM and located at 42.30107, -71.10029. |
| Latest Record: | 5/4/2024 7:28:54 AM and located at 41.56193, -83.65326. |
| Common Techniques: | Bottom Fishing, Casting, Fly, Jigging |
| Popular Lure Types: | Bottom Rig, Flies, Jigs, Soft Plastics |
| Fishing Spots: | 96 White Perch fishing spots. |
Latest White Perch Fishing Reports and Spots
Today for white bass try white street orleans park and along the Towpath. SOME WHITE PERCH TIPS Know the Best Fishing Times White perch con (
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White Bass are still in the river. Now that the weather has calmed a bit we are seeing a good white bass bite today. We are seeing a decent a (
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Sunrise/First cast- 6:36am Sunset/Last Cast- 8:29pm Wading to Bluegrass Island is permitted Weight: 3/8-1/2 oz Walleye White bass and White P (
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Summer is almost over and Last Hurrah Charter Fishing has prime open weekdays. We are still running out of our northern marina on the Magothy R (
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The Maryland Striped Bass Season is back in and will remain so until December 10th. Some Bluefish are showing up as well and Spanish Mackerel a (
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As the river drops we are seeing some white perch (worms on the bottom) and some white bass(roostertails) being picked up. Water dropped anothe (
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One of the most popular species to target here on the Maumee this time of year is a small silvery fish called the white perch. White perch ar (
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By Striper Mike Sports Port Pro Staff View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Winter (
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This hole produced over 20 fish in a short amount of time. The hot ice fishing that I have been experiencing lately just continues. I went o (
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Summer is moving right along and July is almost over. The month of fishing has been just as hot as the weather with limit catches of Rockfish c (
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