Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Striped, greedy, and everywhere. The perfect fish to start a collection.
Also known as: Estonian ahven, Finnish ahven, Norwegian abbor, Swedish abborre.
- Typical size
- 15 to 30 cm
- A big one
- Over 40 cm and past a kilo is a fish of a lifetime for most
- Where it lives
- Lakes, rivers and the coast, often around structure and drop-offs
- Best time
- All year, including through the ice in winter
- Common methods
- Small jigs, spinners, drop-shot, and worm under a float
About the perch
Perch hunt in packs, so where you find one you usually find more. They are bold, they fight above their weight, and the big striped ones are one of freshwater fishing's best looking fish. Small perch are the classic first catch, big ones are a genuine target in their own right.
Catching perch
Look for shoals near harbour walls, jetties, weed edges and sharp depth changes. Downsize your lure when bites go quiet, and once you hook one, cast straight back, the rest of the shoal is usually still there. Watch the sharp gill covers and the spiny front fin when you unhook them.
Before you fish: closed seasons, minimum sizes and catch limits differ by country and by water, and they change. Always check the current local rules and buy any licence you need before you go.
Log your perch in FishandBeer
Every species has a place in your collection. Log the perch you catch with size, photo and notes, and watch your collection fill in day by day.
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