Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
White perch are caught in brackish waters and freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers along the Atlantic Coast. It is found as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as South Carolina. The cooked meat perch has a mildly sweet taste and firm texture. Before it can be enjoyed at the dinner table, though, it must be properly cleaned and the entrails removed.
The Lake Erie perch is a yellow or short-form lake perch. These perch are paler than European perch and have six to eight dark vertical stripes on their sides. Adult lake perch grow to between 4 and 10 inches in length and can live for up to 11 years. Lake Erie perch grow to be between 5 and 12 inches in length and can weigh up to 4 lbs. Once the perch is caught, it needs to be cleaned or filleted properly before it is consumed.
Cleaning a perch doesn't have to be a messy process. Learning the basics will prevent you from rupturing internal organs, like the intestines, which can make it an unpleasant task. When you do catch a perch, it's important to clean it soon. This type of catch is considered a freshwater fish and can die within 10 minutes if not submerged in water. The cleaning can be done either while out fishing or when you get home. You may want to put on a pair of gloves before cleaning so you don't get your hands dirty.
