Our Wild Neighbors

Perch

Perca flavescens

A regular visitor in Canadian lakes and ponds

Search for an urban animal

Description of the animal

Oval-shaped fish measuring 10 to 25 centimetres long.
Elongated body, with greater height than width.
Greenish-yellow flanks, white stomach, and dark green to golden brown back. The dark colour runs onto its flanks in six to eight large vertical stripes.
Dorsal and caudal fins vary in colour from yellow to green. Anal and thoracic fins are opaque yellow or silvery white. Pectoral fins are amber and transparent.
Its first dorsal fin is spiny while the second is made up of soft rays.
Short dorsal spines at the tip of its operculum and on its anal fin.
Rounded snout that does not protrude beyond its lower jaw.
Several small teeth.

Found in warm freshwater (between 18°C and 22°C). The Yellow Perch is particularly fond of lakes with moderate vegetation density.
A schooling fish. The Yellow Perch is gregarious.
During winter, it remains active and finds food under ice.
Feeds mostly during the day. Its diet is mainly made up of aquatic insects, large invertebrates, small fish, and fish eggs.
Its breeding and survival depend on habitat conditions.
Grows very slowly, approximately 2.5 centimetres per year.

Angling is used for fishing the Yellow Perch in both summer and winter. It is not a very strong fighter!
Very important to commercial fishing, the Yellow Perch is the species that brings in the most market revenue in Ontario. Fished extensively in the Great Lakes.
Connoisseurs say that the Yellow Perch is one of the finest tasting freshwater fish.
Students dissect it to study the anatomy of bony fish. It is also the subject of many studies on the impact of metals on freshwater environments.

It should be noted that the largest yellow perches are found in large lakes with relatively clear water.
Act responsibly and respect applicable laws and regulations, especially quotas.
Catching the Yellow Perch is relatively easy, making it perfect for introducing children to fishing.
The Yellow Perch mustn’t be introduced to other lakes, it could menace native fish.