Perch - Perca Fluviatilis

General: The perch is a distinctive fish, with a deep greenish body marked with dark vertical bands, and the dorsal fin is stiffened with spines. The tail and anal fins are orange and the gill-covers are tipped with a sharp spine. The erect dorsal fin has a noticeable black spot at the rear.

Habitat: This species prefers slow-moving rivers, deep lakes and ponds where it stays close to patches of vegetation and submerged objects. Perch require well-oxygenated water to survive.

Science: Perch live in schools, often mixing with other species of fish, usually in the top 50 metres of water. Spawning takes place in April, the very sticky eggs being produced in bands. Females twine these bands around submerged vegetation or among rocks while the males follow her and fertilise the eggs.

The young fish hatch after about three weeks and remain amongst the egg bands until the yoke sac is exhausted. They then venture into more open water and feed on planktonic animals. As they grow they begin to shoal together close to the bank. Males mature when they reach the length of 7 – 8 cm, females when they are 10 cm.

Although used as a source of cheap food in some eastern parts of its range, the roach is known primarily as a sport-fish. Its sheer abundance and ability to tolerate poor quality water means that it one of the most common fish caught by anglers. The fish’s natural predators include pike, eels and other large carnivorous fish, herons, osprey and aquatic mammals such as mink and otter.