White perch

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Species of fish

title: "White perch" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["morone", "fish-of-north-america", "fish-of-the-eastern-united-states", "fish-of-the-great-lakes", "fish-described-in-1789", "taxa-named-by-johann-friedrich-gmelin"] description: "Species of fish" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_perch" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of fish ::

| image = Morone americana PAQ.jpg | image_caption = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | taxon = Morone americana | authority = (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) | synonyms = {{Specieslist | Perca americana | J. F. Gmelin, 1789 | Roccus americanus | (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) | Perca immaculata | Walbaum, 1792 | Morone rufa | Mitchill, 1814 | Morone pallida | Mitchill, 1814 | synonyms_ref =

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".

The common name "white perch" is sometimes applied to the white crappie (Pomoxis annularis).

Description

Generally silvery-white in color, hence the name, 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". White perch have been reported up to 49.5 cm in length and weighing 2.2 kg.

Ecology

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 landlocked lakes and ponds.

Diet

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 mudminnows 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.

Reproduction

White perch are a prolific species. The female can deposit over 150,000 eggs in a spawning session, lasting just over a week. Several males will often attend a spawning female, and each may fertilize a portion of her eggs. The young hatch within one to six days of fertilization.

At times, a parasite known as Lironeca ovalis is located in the gills. Its presence is believed to reduce the growth rate of white perch.

The white perch is currently recovering from a loss of population in the Hudson River.

Aquatic nuisance species

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/White_perch_GLERL.jpg" caption="''Morone americana''"] ::

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.

For recreational angling, white perch put up a great fight for their size, are extremely aggressive and easy to catch on many soft plastic lures rigged on jigheads. Even 4" white perch will attack a 2-3" lure many times on the same retrieve and hook themselves with the slightest hookset. They can also be caught on live bait such as bloodworms, nightcrawlers, spipes or mackerel on small hooks or double rigs through the ice.

White perch also have a hard, scaly body that, along with their sharp fins, protects them from predators. When removing a white perch from a hook, one should hold the line gently in one hand and gently slide the other hand downward from beginning at the fish's nose while curling the thumb and touching the middle finger. Doing so will gently collapse the spined dorsal fin and prevent an unexpected prick injuries.

White perch are a popular delicacy for Chesapeake Bay fisherman and in many locations are considered a local favorite for a fish fry, breaded and baked, or even grilled with lemon juice and some freshly chopped vegetables. The raw meat is of a somewhat pinkish hue, but when cooked, it is white and flaky. --

References

References

  1. NatureServe. (2013). "''Morone americana''".
  2. {{FishBase. Morone. americana. (2023)
  3. "White Crappie (''Pomoxis annularis'')". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
  4. "Maryland Fish Facts".
  5. (30 August 2023). "''Morone americana'' (Gmelin, 1789)". U.S. Geological Survey.
  6. Huot, Jesse. (2023-12-28). "Sportfishing season opens New Year's Day in Nova Scotia".
  7. "White Perch".
  8. Charlie, Chum. (July 24, 2023). "How to Catch a White Perch".
  9. (1974). "The Incidence of ''Lironeca ovalis'' (Say) (Crustacea, Isopoda) and Its Effects on the Growth of White Perch, ''Morone americana'' (Gmelin), in the Delaware River near Artificial Island". Chesapeake Science.
  10. (December 2021). "Kingston, N.Y.: A Historic Hudson City 'Preparing for Better Opportunities'". The New York Times.
  11. (October 2018). "Invasive.org, White Perch".
  12. (July 18, 2022). "Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks".

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moronefish-of-north-americafish-of-the-eastern-united-statesfish-of-the-great-lakesfish-described-in-1789taxa-named-by-johann-friedrich-gmelin