Pricey Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens): North America's Scrumptious, Shallow, Smashing Freshwater Fish

The word perch can be a verb or a noun. As an intransitive (Latin: in-, “not” + transitivus, “that may pass over”) verb which takes no direct object, it can refer to someone or something alighting, resting or settling at a questionable height or in an equally precarious spot. An example is the following:

The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) likes to perch on the stems of cattails (Typha spp) and other marsh grasses.

The word perch also can function as a transitive verb (Latin: transitivus, “that may pass over”) which takes a direct object. It thereby can reference the placing or putting of someone or something at a precarious height or in an equally questionable spot. For example:

Lorenzo perched his younger brother, Eduardo, with his teddy bear Teddy, on the back step of his new tricycle and pedaled off for the day's adventures.

As a noun, the word has two chief, distinct meanings. One meaning references the place or point upon which someone or something is perched, placed, rested or settled. In this sense, the word traces its origins back to the Latin noun pertica (“pole”) by way of the French feminine noun perche of the same meaning.

But in another sense, the word identifies a beloved freshwater fish. In this context, the word may be tracked back to the ancient Greek name πέρκη (perkē) for the fish. The word was transmitted into English from Greek by the intermediary of first Latin (perca) and then French (perche).

Interestingly enough, the beloved game and pan fish perch really does perch in its watery perches by resting on its pelvic fins!

What is the common name of the yellow perch? Yellow perch is the common name which people tend to use in their daily lives to reference the yellow perch. But this phrase may not be the only term which is used. Depending upon circumstances and localities, other common names may replace or supplement yellow perch.

A compilation of alternative common names will include any of the following:

• American perch;
• American lake perch;
• American yellow perch;
• Chavoo (Canada);
• Osaoeo, osaoeos (Canada);
• Lake perch;
• Perch;
• Raccoon perch;
• Ringed perch;
• Ukas (Canada).

What is the scientific name of the yellow perch? Samuel Latham Mitchill (August 20, 1764-September 7, 1831) is the New York-born gentleman who is recognized as giving the yellow perch its scientific name. He was born in the family residence at Hempstead, Long Island. Except for his student years at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, he was a life-long resident of New York State.

Samuel brought a high level of energy and skill to his professional life. He had been educated in medicine and the sciences. He put his medical training to effective use through his practice as a physician. He ultimately was offered a position at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. The College was organized as part of the city’s renowned Columbia University. He was a teacher there for just under 2 decades, from 1807 until 1826.

At the same time, Samuel managed to put his scientific training to effective use. He obtained a teaching position at Columbia College, the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University. He taught botany, chemistry and natural history from 1791 until 1801.

During his years as a physician and teacher, Samuel also launched 3 other professional careers. Through one of his career moves, he pursued his longstanding interest in politics. He served in the following elected capacities:

• New York State Assemblyman, 1791 and 1798;
• United States House of Representatives, 1801-1804 and 1810-1813;
• U.S. Senate, 1804-1809.

But two of Samuel’s career moves related to his scientific training. One was as founding editor of The Medical Repository, the first medical journal to be organized and published in the United States. The other was as researcher, collector and classifier of the animals and plants in New York State.

In fact, it was in the course of building up his own collection of specimens that Samuel gave the yellow perch its scientific name. The name was based on a specimen from one of the water bodies in New York. It was selected in 1818 after Samuel examined the specimen and wrote the first official description of the yellow perch.

The scientific name of the yellow perch is Perca flavescens. The first part of the name, Perca, makes it clear that the fish in question is a true perch. The second part of the name, flavescens (Latin: “yellowish”), references the dominant color of the yellow perch.

What does the yellow perch call home? The yellow perch is native to the water bodies of North America which drain into the Atlantic Ocean slope. It therefore is present naturally in eastern Canada and the eastern United States of America. It naturally ranges from the middle Mackenzie drainage southeast to:

• The Hudson Bay in its lower extension;
• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system;
• Upper Mississippi River basin;
• Water bodies which drain into the Atlantic Ocean slope south to North Carolina and possibly into South Carolina.

But at the same time, the yellow perch also can be both a native and an introduced fish in North America. For example, in Virginia, it is native to the Commonwealth’s Atlantic slope drainages. It may have been introduced into the New River drainage system as early as 1917 to 1921.

In the way of another example, in Texas, the yellow perch is an introduced fish. It indeed may be found in many of the blue bonnet state’s water bodies. But the established yellow perch breeding population will be found only in the following areas:

• Canadian River, at the Meredith Reservoir;
• Rio Grande near El Paso;
• Salt Fork of the Red River, at the Greenbelt Reservoir.

Within its native and introduced ranges, the yellow perch appreciates the following, prevailing conditions within its watery habitats:

• Backwaters and pools of creeks, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams;
• Big rivers;
• Clear, cool or warm lakes with gravelly, sandy or soft bottoms and rooted submerged plants;
• Depths less than 30 feet (9.14 meters), for forming schools of 50 to 200 same-aged and same-sized yellow perch;
• Large reservoirs;
• Ponds;
• Sluggish streams;
• Water temperatures between 70 and 80 °F (21.11 to 26.67 °C), with a tolerance to 86 °F (30 °C).

The yellow perch can tolerate brackish and salt waters, up to 12.9 parts per thousand (ppt). It knows how to adapt to acidic and turbid waters. In terms of pH levels, it manages to survive in bog lakes whose acidity measures 4.4.

How do you know that it is a yellow perch? The yellow perch can be identified through the following physical traits:

Head:

• Eyes large;
• Gill cover with 1 spine;
• Jaws with small teeth;
• Snout rounded;
• Top olive green to golden brown.

Body:

• Back olive green to golden brown with brassy yellow iridescence;
• Belly grayish, silver white or white;
• Lateral line running from the gill covers to the tail base and serving as a sensory organ for detecting movements, pressure changes, and vibrations;
• Mature body length of 7.52 to 15.75 inches (19.1 to 40 centimeters), with a known maximum of 19.69 inches (50.0 centimeters);
• Mature body weight of pounds (kilograms), with a known maximum of 4.21 pounds (1.91 kilograms);
• Scales dark along back and sides and forming vertical pattern of 5 to 9 stripes;
• Shape elongate and rounded;
• Sides olive green to golden brown shading into light yellow and light yellow green;
• Tail small and slightly forked.

Fins, rays, spines:

• Anal fin pale and small, with leading margin pale yellow and with 6 to 9 rays and 2 spines;
• Caudal (Latin: caudālis, “of or relating to the tail of an animal”) fin yellow olive to dusky gray in color;
• Dorsal (Latin: dorsālis, “of or relating to the back of an animal”) fins olive in color, separated, with 11 to 15 spines on the first and 1 to 3 on the second;
• Pectoral (Latin: pectorālis, “of or relating to the breast of an animal”) fin pale yellow, with 13 to 15 rays;
• Pelvic fin pale yellow, larger than pectoral fin, and with 5 rays and 1 spine.

What does the yellow perch eat? The young yellow perch eats algae and plankton (πλαγκτός, planktos, “errant” and therefore “drifter”). As it ages and gets bigger, it expands its diet to include aquatic insects.

As an adult, it preys upon the following:

• Crustaceans such as crayfish;
• Insect larvae and adults;
• Invertebrates;
• Leeches;
• Mollusks;
• Other fishes;
• Snails;
• Worms.

In terms of other fishes, the yellow perch eats:

• The eggs;
• The fry;
• The young.

It even may feed on its own eggs, fry and young.

What eats the yellow perch? Birds, fish, frogs, people and reptiles are the predators of the yellow perch. Examples of predatory birds include the following:

• Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus);
• Belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon);
• Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus);
• Great blue heron (Ardea herodias);
• Merganser (Mergus merganser);
• Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis);

Examples of other fishes which prey upon the yellow perch include the following:

• American eel (Anguilla rostrata);
• Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus);
• Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus);
• Bowfin (Amia calva);
• Burbot (lota lota);
• Chain pickerel (Esox niger);
• Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus);
• Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki);
• Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysolencas);
• Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides);
• Muskie (Esox masquinongy);
• Northern pike (Esox lucius);
• Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu);
• Walleye (Sander vitreus);
• Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis).

The bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is an example of a predatory frog.

Examples of predatory reptiles may include any of the following:

• Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina);
• Eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta picta);
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon).

Examples of human predators may include:

• Anglers;
• Fishers;
• Fish-eaters;
• Fish enthusiasts.

Additionally, the yellow perch can be parasitized by the big red worm (Eustrongylides ignotus, E. tubifex). The big red worm is a roundworm. It lives in its egg stage inside bird droppings. It moves inside aquatic worms (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) which eat avicular (Latin: avicularis, “of or pertaining to birds”) feces. Inside the worm, the roundworm passes into its larval stage. It relocates inside fish such as the yellow perch which prey on aquatic worms.

The big red worm brings about a change in the appearance of its yellow perch host. Tiny black spots can appear on the fish’s body. But the big red worm merely sees the yellow perch as a temporary host.

It is the big red worm’s hope that the yellow perch will be eaten by birds such as:

• Cormorants;
• Eagles;
• Egrets;
• Herons;
• Mallards;
• Mergansers;
• Osprey.

It then will burrow into the bird’s stomach, change into an adult, and produce eggs to start the above cycle all over again.

What is the spawning time of the yellow perch? The yellow perch breeds in late winter (Maryland) to early summer (Minnesota), depending upon the locale. The spawning season can range from February to July in the north hemisphere and August to October in the southern. It can spawn once water temperatures reach 35.6 to 65.48 °F (2 to 18.6 °C). The female is preceded by the male in terms of arrival times at the spawning grounds.

The spawning of the yellow perch generally lags about a week behind that of any walleye (Sander vitreus) in the area. It occurs at nightfall. It takes place in waters about 5 to 10 feet (1.52 to 3.05 meters) deep.

The spawning yellow perch favors breeding over submerged plants. But in a pinch, it handles spawning over such submerged objects as gravel, rocks and timber. It prefers firm bottoms. But it tolerates soft, sandy substrates.

The female yellow perch can produce 2,000 to 155,000+ eggs. The eggs form into accordion-like, gelatinous, transparent masses which may extend as much as 2 to 8 feet (0.61 to 2.44 meters) and weight up to 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms). They hatch, without parental care or defense, in 8 to 25 days to hatch, depending upon water temperatures.

The newly hatched yellow perch fry immediately exit the hatching area. They go to nearby deeper waters where they form schools with other yellow perch of the same age and size. They remain in the deeper, open waters for about a month before relocating to shallower waters for a bottom-dwelling existence.

The female yellow perch is sexually mature at age 3. The male matures at age 1. The yellow perch typically lives 4 to 7 years. The female tends to live longer than the male.

The maximum known age for a yellow perch is 13 years, in Pennsylvania.

What is the use of the yellow perch? Environmental education, educational entertainment, fishing and food are the most visible uses of the yellow perch.

In terms of environmental education and educational entertainment, the yellow perch can be found in private and public aquaria. It enchants aquarium owners and visitors with its graceful swims. It also gets rave reviews for its bright, cheery colors.

In terms of fishing, the yellow perch can be caught. In fact, catching one often means catching others. The smashingly yellow perch prefers shallower waters which actually do not frustrate but instead favor the efforts of anglers and fishers. It also tends to travel in schools. Catching one yellow perch therefore will be followed often by catching others in quick succession.

Prime places for catching yellow perch are closely guarded secrets. But the ways in which to catch the fun, fun-loving, funny fish are not. The few following guidelines may serve as inspiration, reminders or summaries for anglers and fishers determined to catch yellow perch:

Times:

• Afternoons, spring;
• Sunrise and sunset, summer and winter;
• Nightfall to sunrise, spawning season.

Places:

• Shallow waters in open areas of clear, cool lakes and ponds;
• Shallower areas of streams with rocky bottoms and slow currents.

Methods:

• Bottom, fly and ice fishing;
• Ice fishing with jigging rods and tip-ups;
• Live bait such as grubs, minnows, worms;
• Lures such as crank baits, spinners, twisters in green, white, yellow.

In terms of food, the yellow perch is a pricey fish. It offers a uniquely mild flavor for discerning fish-eaters to enjoy. But its special flesh and taste will come at a high price in markets, restaurants and stores.

The catching of a yellow perch therefore can be cause for considerable celebration. The yellow perch’s flavor is at its best when kept cool between the catch and the preparation for consumption. It also will be at its best when eaten the very day of the catch, as a scrumptious dish that may be served:

• Baked;
• Broiled;
• Pan-fried.

What is the future of the yellow perch? Any conversation about the yellow perch is a win-win investment. The topic meets with enthusiastic reception and provokes humorous, impassioned participation by consumers, hobbyists and professionals as well as anglers and fishers. Everyone seems to agree on one, critical point: the interaction between people and yellow perch is rewarding and welcome.

But how is it that such disparate cultural and economic interests can reach agreement? The reason lies in the yellow perch’s ability to please everyone. For example, consumers like the ease with which scrumptious perch flesh can be served in a variety of culinary preparations. They even tolerate higher prices because of the convenience and the taste.

Hobbyists generally count among the most vocal of yellow perch fans. They like the way in which the yellow perch strikes fast and hard. They also respect the fish for ending the struggle before the catch gets too exhausting or messy. The yellow perch seems to know when to surrender so that the succulent flesh beneath the smashing colors of its spectacular body remains intact and tasty.

In something of a surprise move, professionals such as the managers and researchers of freshwater bodies actually encourage generous catches of the yellow perch. The reason lies in the yellow perch’s tendency to proliferate in its watery habitats. Yellow perch numbers quickly may be characterized as overpopulous.

Unfortunately, overpopulation tends to stunt fish growth, spread fish diseases and degrade fish environments. Nobody wants that to happen in the shallower waters which sustain such slam-dunk fun as the sight and pursuit of the savvy, scrumptious, selective, smashing, snappy, sociable, spectacular, striking, sunny, svelte, sweet yellow perch.

My special thanks to:

• Talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the Internet; as well as to Stessily for original artwork included below;
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Agriculture for the professionalism which is evinced in the high-caliber data and images which they make available in print and on the internet;
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Fairfax County Schools of Northern Virginia for the high caliber of their online resources.

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Gooch, Bob. Virginia Fishing Guide. Revised Edition. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992.

Hart, David. Flyfisher’s Guide to Virginia Including West Virginia’s Best Fly Fishing Waters. Belgrade, MT: Wilderness Adventures Press, Inc., 2006.

Hassan-Williams, Carla, and Timothy H. Bonner “Perca flavescens yellow perch.” Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Biology: Texas Freshwater Fishes. http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/perca flavescens.htm (Last accessed December 3, 2011)

Jenkins, Robert E. and Noel M. Burkhead. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. Bethesda, MD: American Fisheries Society, 1994.

Pouder, Deborah B., Eric W. Curtis, and Roy P.E. Yanong. Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Nematodes. Publication FA-113. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2005.

Rohde, Fred C., Rudolf G. Arndt, David G. Lindquist, and James F. Parnell. Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Chapel Hill and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1994.

“Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens.” EFISH: The Virtual Aquarium of The Department of Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences of Virginia Tech. http://cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/yperch.html (Last accessed December 3, 2011)

“Yellow Perch Perca flavescens.” Fairfax County Public Schools Study of Northern Virginia Ecology: Organism Menu: Fish. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/yellow_perch.htm (Last accessed December 3, 2011)

“Yellow Perch Perca flavescens.” Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) Gallery of Pennsylvania Fishes Chapter 23: Perches, Family Percidae. http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/fishhtms/chap23.htm (Last accessed December 3, 2011)

Copyright Saturday, December 3, 2011 by Derdriu