Perch, European Perca fluviatilis

Linnaeus, 1758

PERCIDAE FAMILY
Also called perch, English perch, percha fluviatili, perche (in French)

The European perch is a widespread species throughout Eurasia (and has been widely introduced elsewhere) that is very popular with freshwater anglers. Its popularity with anglers is undoubtedly due to the diverse habitats in which it can be found including estuarine lagoons, lakes, rivers and streams.

One of only three extant members of the genus Perca, European perch can be distinguished from all other members of the Percidae family in Europe by 1) pelvic and anal fins yellow to red in color, 2) a conspicuous spot in the posterior part of the first dorsal fin and 3) 5-8 dark bars across the flanks that are often Y-shaped.

European perch have been recorded to live as long as 22 years. Males reach reproductive maturity at 1-2 years of age, while females don’t begin spawning until 2-4 years. Spawning generally takes place from February to July, depending on location. Juvenile perch are opportunistic predators that feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates. Once they reach roughly 12 cm in standard length, they become more piscivorous in nature, with an increasing amount of their diet consisting of small fishes.

Perch are highly sought after by anglers because they can be caught using a wide variety of baits. As with most fish, live or dead bait works extremely well and maggots, worms and craysfish are all reported to work well. Baits may be fished from a float near the surface or on the bottom, depending on the depth of the water. They will also readily hit artificial lures such as small spoons, plugs, jigs and also flies. They are also a common target for ice fishermen, especially in Scandinavia and Russia. European perch are also widely considered to be one of the best eating freshwater species of fish.

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