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Perch
(Perca fluviatilis)
The Genus is the rank between Family and Species
Perca is a Genus of fish in the Percidae Family
Maximum size 510 mm
Maximum published weight 4.75 Kg
Maximum reported age 22 years
Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Phylum Chordata (vertebrates and several closely related invertebrates)
Class Actinopterygii, (ray-finned fishes)
Order Perciformes
Family Percidae
Genus Perca
Species Perca fluviatilis
Perciformes
The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. The name Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the ray-finned fish and comprise over 7000 different species, with varying shapes and sizes, found in almost all aquatic environments. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous.
Perciform fish typically have dorsal and anal fins divided into anterior spiny and posterior soft-rayed portions, which may be partially or completely separated. There are usually pelvic fins with one spine and up to five soft rays, either positioned by the throat or under the belly. Scales are usually ctenoid in form, though sometimes they are cycloid or otherwise modified. Various other, more technical characters define the group.
Classification is controversial. As traditionally defined the Perciformes are almost certainly paraphyletic. Other orders that should possibly be included as suborders are the Scorpaeniformes, Tetraodontiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Of the presently recognized suborders several may be paraphyletic as well.
Percidae
The Percidae are a family of perciform fish found in fresh and brackish waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The family contains about 200 species in ten genera. The darters, perches, and their relatives are in this family: well-known species include the walleye, ruffe, and three species of 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 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 20 inches (510 mm) and the largest recorded weight is 10.4 lbs (4.75 kg).
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.
Fishing
The baits for perch are, minnows, red, marsh, brandling or lob worms, shrimps and artificial lures. The tackle should be fine but strong, as with a fish bait a trout or pike may frequently be hooked. Lures can be quite effective too, such as spinners and rubber/gum artificial lures. Perch, unlike fish of prey, are gregarious, and in the winter months, when the frosts and floods have destroyed and carried away the beds of weeds, they congregate together in the pools and eddies, and are then to be angled for with greatest success from 10 to 4 o'clock, from the edge of a stream eddy.
Relation to the yellow perch
Because of their similar appearance and ability to cross-breed, the yellow perch has sometimes been classified as a subspecies of the European perch, in which case its trinomial name would be Perca fluviatilis flavescens.
However, it is unclear whether or not hybrids are viable, and most classifications treat the two fish as separate species. According to NatureServe, allozyme data indicates that Perca fluviatilis and Perca flavescens are separate species.
Environment:
Demersal
Sinking to or lying on the bottom; living on or near the bottom and feeding on benthic organisms.
Anadromous
Fish that ascend rivers to spawn, as salmon and hilsa do. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
pH range: 7 - 7.5; dH range: 8 - 12 ;
Depth range 1 - 30 m
Climate: temperate; 10 - 22°C; 74°N - 38°N
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years
Biology: Occurs in slow-flowing rivers, deep lakes and ponds; avoids cold, fast-flowing waters but may penetrate into but not breed in such waters. Normally found lying close to or amongst obstacles in the water. Common where there is abundant aquatic vegetation. A predatory species, juveniles feed on zooplankton, bottom invertebrate fauna and other perch fry while adults feed on both invertebrates and fish, mainly stickle-backs, perch, roach and minnows. Spawning occurs in spring.
The egg mass is unpalatable to other fish and is therefore protected. The eggs hatch in 1-3 weeks and the young form schools for some time before taking up a solitary existence. Eggs grouped in long white ribbons (up to 1 m) are found over submerged objects.
The dietary preferences have created fears among conservationists who believed this species adversely affects stocks of native fishes including Murray cod, Macquarie perch, pygmy perches and rainbow fishes.
Used to be cultured commercially in Australia. Its flesh is excellent and not so bony. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried and baked.
May be captured with natural or artificial bait.
Come fishing in Devon, Enjoy Devon fishing holidays, stay in stunning holiday cottages and fishing, selfcatering cottages and fishing, fishing holidays Devon.