Fish Species and how to catch them!
Perch
The European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is a highly predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often referred to by the name shortform perch.
The species is very popular and has been widely introduced beyond its native area, into Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. They have caused substantial damage to native fish populations in Australia.
European perch are greenish with red pelvic, anal, and caudal fins. They have 5–9 dark vertical bars on their sides. European perch size can vary greatly between bodies of water; in Australia the fish are sometimes much larger than in their native Europe.
The perch can live for up to 22 years, and older perch are often much larger than average; the maximum recorded length is 60 cm (24 in), a maximum of less than 3 kg (6.6 lb) in the UK (the British record stands at 6lb 2oz), they grow to moderately larger maximums in mainland Europe than in Britain.
As at Nov 2010 the official all tackle world record stands at 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) although individual records from various areas record larger fish.
The perch spawns at the end of April or beginning of May, depositing it upon weeds, or the branches of trees or shrubs that have become immersed in the water; it does not come into condition again until July. The eggs have been known to stick to the legs of wading birds and then transferred to other waters that the birds visit.
Perch as a Food Fish
Perch are a popular species of panfish and are considered very good to eat; the commercial catch for them has always been in high demand. This has also led to considerable misuse of the term "perch" in the restaurant business in the United States, such as "ocean perch" (rose fish) and "rock perch" (a small bass). Many restaurants will strive to correctly advertise the offering as "yellow lake perch", or the slightly more ambiguous "lake perch". "White perch", though similarly popular, is a completely different species common in New England, and not a member of the family Percidae.
Angling
They can be caught with a variety of methods, but the two best methods are perhaps float fishing and lure fishing. The best way is to use a small hook and cast into the weeds just before the drop off. When fishing with a float, the angler will want to have a disgorger; Perch are notorious for swallowing the hook, and will need aid of a disgorger or forceps for unhooking. In many parts of the world they are also a favorite species among ice fishermen. They will take a variety of baits, including minnows, worms, maggots, bread and softshell crayfish.