Perch

[jaeger80]

What's your idea of keeper sized perch?

[WALL E GATOR]

How fast and good are you at cleaning/ filleting them? I don't really like to process the littler ones so for me 10-12" is keeper, I'm not cleaning all them damn dinks. I would never keep anything under 8" even it was a fatty. We have big perch out here so I guess maybe I'm a bit spoiled on what size I will consider keeping.

[Paternoboy]

All of these...

[Paternoboy]

I agree with WALL E, though.  The little ones produce little meat for the work...10" is about my minimum size, but it also depends on how many I have in the fridge at home!  Beggars can't be choosers...

[jaeger80]

Is there actually belly meat?  Or do I just suck at filleting...  I only seem to find loin meat.

[jaeger80]

Is there a way to tell the difference between male and female perch?

[ice dawg]

1. The females have big bellies full of eggs.
2. Females don't have the ability to shut their mouths.
3. During the time of the year when they aren't full of eggs refer to #2.
 

[jaeger80]

Nice! Thanks

[MumbleSEED]

1. The females have big bellies full of eggs.
2. Females don't have the ability to shut their mouths.
3. During the time of the year when they aren't full of eggs refer to #2.
 

This is a classic response loved it...

All in all I like them to be 10 to 12 inches as said.  If I need a few more fillets to feed the kids I would keep the 8 and 9 inchers. 

Always wanted to bread and fry the egg sack.  Never have tho.  I  am not a fear factor eater.

[ice dawg]

This is a classic response loved it...

All in all I like them to be 10 to 12 inches as said.  If I need a few more fillets to feed the kids I would keep the 8 and 9 inchers. 

Always wanted to bread and fry the egg sack.  Never have tho.  I  am not a fear factor eater.

One of my friends would bread Walleye eggs and fry them in butter. He said they were great done this way. He would have Walleye eggs instead of bacon or sausage for breakfast. He also said Perch eggs done this way were "nasty". I just took that as the truth from someone who knew.

[butcher]

My preferred size for perch is 10-12". I am re-sharing this from a few previous posts on some other related topics just as an FYI. I compiled a list of lengths and ages by species from the PA biologists reports on the PA fish commission website. Obviously there can be variations based on the specifics of each waterway but I think it's a good reference:

Perch (Yellow)
8” (4.0 years)
10” (6.3 years)
12” (10 years)
13.5+” (>16.7 years)

In short, it takes the average perch in PA ten years to reach 12" and probably another five years for the next inch. For that reason, I now release any perch over 12". 9-10" seems to be ideal for me. Plenty big enough to eat but also not long to replace.

[older crappie hunter]

I would say at least 12".

[charlijones]

The females full of eggs are probably not worth keeping,  there's a lot less meat on them then it looks like.  I've tried perch eggs and didn't become a fan.  It might depend upon how far along the eggs are.

[filetandrelease]

 Here it depends on the body of water and how bad I want a meal , 8” is my lower limit , 1 lake I fish they average 10”