Bigscale Logperch (Percina macrolepida)

The Bigscale Logperch or Percina macrolepida is just one of the 11 different species of Logperch found in North America.  The Bigscale Logperch is a freshwater fish that is found in a few different states including Texas, California, Oklahoma and Arkansas.  They are not very large, only growing to about 4" in maximum length.  These fish are slender with black or green vertical bars running down their bodies.

Bigscale Logperch are normally found near the bottom of slow moving streams, rivers and sometimes lakes.  They are known to bury themselves under the sand much like the saltwater Shovelnose Guitarfish, lying in wait for their unsuspecting prey to swim on by.  Logperch will also use this technique to hide from potential predators.  They feed on insect larvae and smaller fish.    

Bigscale Logperch reach sexual maturity in their second year and spawning will normally occur between February and mid-July. These fish have a rather bizarre mating ritual in which the female Bigscale Logperch will stand on her tail to attract the male.  Once the male takes notice they will press up against each other and the female will lay 100 to 400 eggs, normally in a plant or small gravel pit.

You can check out a similar species the Conasauga Logperch flipping rocks in search of food in the video below.  

If you have any additional information about the Bigscale Logperch please leave a comment below.

White Perch (Morone americana)

The White Perch or Morone americana is a species of freshwater fish that is sometimes referred to as the Silver Perch. Even though this fish is called a perch, it doesn't belong to the same family as the Yellow Perch, and is actually closer to a Bass. This fish is medium sized only growing to about 20" in maximum length and weighing in at nearly 5lbs.

White Perch have large scales and a white underbelly with a gray-green coloration on its back and sides that fades to a silver as you move downward. As you can see in the pictures this fish has a serious dorsal spines so be careful when handling them.   They are found in freshwater as well as brackish waters in places like Maine, and other coastal areas.

White Perch are known to eat small Walleye, Yellow Perch, minnows and fish eggs. They can reproduce rather quickly, with the female producing 140,000 eggs in a single spawning session. These eggs will hatch in about a week.

In some places White Perch are loved for their great fight and tasty meat, but other places they are looked upon as a nuisance that destroys other species by their quick breeding and appetite for small fish and eggs.  The have been discovered in the Great Lakes and are thought to cause serious troubles for the Walleye population.  

If you have any additional information about the White Perch please leave us a comment below...

Pacific Ocean Perch (Sebastes alutus)

The Pacific Ocean Perch or Sebastes alutus is a fairly common, and quite edible fish found in the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. They are often caught in British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska in a wide range of depths, from 150-400 meters. These fish tend to inhabit shallower waters in the summer months, and then go to deeper water in the winter months.

Pacific Ocean Perch are white & red with the classic Perch look, normally the deeper they are the redder they get. These fish can grow up to 21" (53 cm) and can weigh 4.5 lb. (2.05 kg). They normally spawn in the fall with the mother being viviparous, much like some sharks. This simple means that the eggs develop inside of the fish, and in this case even hatch in the fish. It will later release the fry into the waters and will soon begin to drift with the current until reaching a large enough size to swim out on its own. These fish are slow growers, but make up for this with their long lifeline which can exceed 90 years old!These saltwater fish will feed on a variety of foods including calanoid copepods, euphausiids, euphausiids, copepods, amphipods and mysids. Pacific Ocean Perch often fall prey to Pacific Halibut, Sablefish, Salmon and Sperm Whales. These fish were heavily over fished in the 1960s, but new regulations have helps maintain a healthy population level even with over 75 million pounds of Pacific ocean perch landed in 2008 alone!

If you have any additional information about the Pacific Ocean Perch that you would like to share including fishing tips or recipes please leave us a comment!

Shiner Perch (Cymatogaster aggregata)

The Shiner Perch or Cymatogaster aggregata is a commonly fished for creature that is found on the Pacific Coast of the United States. A member Surfperch family they are greenish black in color with some silver on their sides along with the classic striped perch look. The Shiner Perch is often caught in streams, rivers and lagoons.When these fish are spawning the males of this species will turn almost a black color. This saltwater fish is can be caught right off piers which is great for easy fishing. They often feed on zooplankston and anything else they can find on the bottom.

If you have any fishing tips about the Shiner Perch please leave them below...

Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens)

The Yellow Perch or Perca Flavescens is best known for its tastiness and is one of the most popular Panfish. This freshwater fish is often found in schools, so it is also very easy to catch. Once you have found one, mostly like there is more in the waters below. Most Yellow Perch are around 6" but some have been reported to be almost 2' long and weighing in at 4lbs. The larger Yellow Perch are often known as Jumbo Perch. These fish are found mainly throughout The United States and Canada. They can easily be caught using minnows or small small worms. Just use a sinker as these fish are often found close to the bottom. About 20' down in the summertime, but depending on the weather these Yellow Perch can be found in shallow areas as well. If you have any Perch fishing tips or recipes please share them in the comments below...

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