Whats the Deal on WHITE Perch?

[Luke V.]

Was out on Lake O on the weekend. Fishing for bass, we came off a drop off noticed a large ball of bait fish, marked big fish underneath. So down went the jigging spoons and up came white perch. I have never caught one before. Just curious if they are common in lake O and if they taste the same as a yellow perch. They were decent size 10-12 inches.

 

a pic just bcuz

Thanks for looking

[northernpike56]

yeah I've heard they are fine to eat, but I don't think I'd eat one out of lako Ontario, consumption guide says 1/0 for the main (western) body of lake O.

 

Matt.

[John Bacon]

Just curious if they are common in lake O and if they taste the same as a yellow perch. They were decent size 10-12 inches.

 

a pic just bcuz

Thanks for looking

 

 

I am not sure what they taste like but I believe they are actually more closely related to bass and sunfish than they are to yellow perch.

[bigugli]

White perch are in the same family as white bass. Quite edible.

[Christopheraaron]

Cool, looks kind of like a bream. earlier in the year bigugli had a report from that area with white perch so I don't think they're too uncommon.

[outllaw]

very common in southern ont. as for table fare. theres far better eats.

[Rod Caster]

White bass from Nipissing. Not sure if this is the same as what you showed.

Here, they are GREAT eating.

[Luke V.]

Rod Caster,

 

I do not think they are the same.

 

I probably wont be eating any of them being that they come from Lake O

 

 

Thanks for the replies everyone

[craigdritchie]

White perch are very common in Lake Ontario. They belong to the same family of fish as white bass and striped bass (they have no relationship with smallmouth/largemouth, sunfish, or yellow perch whatsoever). Average size is 10 - 12 inches. They usually travel in large schools, so when you find one, you've found a bunch. They're pretty good eating fish but, as others have said, I would be cautious about eating much from Lake O.