Yellow Perch
Description
To 15"; 4 1/2lbs. Oblong, moderately compressed; brassy green to golden yellow above with 5-8 dusky bars across back almost to belly. Mouth extends to middle of eyes; no canine teeth; preopercle serrate. Dorsal and caudal fins dusky to olive; pelvic and anal fins light grayish green to reddish orange; dorsal fins separate; 2 anal fin spines, 6-8 soft rays. Lateral line complete, 53-59 scales; cheek and opercle scaled.
Habitat
Open areas in streams, lakes, pond, and reservoirs with clear water and aquatic vegetation.
Similar Species
Similar Species
Comments
The Yellow Perch lives in schools in deep water, and moves into shallower areas to feed at dawn and dusk. It is a sport food fish and is harvested commercially in parts of Canada and the Great Lakes. Anglers use minnows, worms, and other fishes as live bait.
Other

Spawning occurs from April through July, but usually during May in Nova Scotia, at water temperatures of 9 to 12øC. The adults move into shallow areas of lakes or up into tributary streams. Males are first to arrive and the last to leave. Yellow perch spawn at night or in early morning, most often in areas where there is debris or vegetation on the bottom. The female perch sheds her eggs in a long jelly-like spiral or accordion-folded strand. Several males fertilize the eggs during spawning. The egg mass can be as much as 2.1 m (7 ft) long, 51 to 102 mm (2 to 4 in) wide and weigh 0.9 kg (2 lb)!

Females produce an average of 23,000 eggs but have been known to shed up to 109,000 eggs. The egg masses are semi-buoyant and attach to the vegetation or bottom material. They receive no parental care and can be cast ashore during storms or eaten by predators. Yellow perch eggs are 3.5 mm in diameter and hatch in 8 to 21 days, depending on the temperature. Newly-hatched perch are about 5 mm long.
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