New to fishing? Or just plain bad at it? White Perch were made for you. They’re small, plentiful, and eager to take your bait. You might think such an easy target would be overfished by now, but guess again. These are persistent, invasive fish that many states are eager to be rid of. So, feel free to indulge in White Perch fishing all you like – you’re doing the environment a favor!
How to Identify White Perch
The name White Perch is rather misleading, because these are no Perch at all. Morone americana are actually part of the temperate Bass family, which includes Striped Bass, White Bass, and their Hybrid species. To make matters more confusing, White Perch are sometimes called Silver Bass, particularly in areas where “White Perch” refers to White Crappie instead.
True White Perch (the ones we’re focusing on here and which aren’t really Perch) are native to the eastern shores of North America. Traditionally, their range extends from the St. Lawrence River in Canada down to South Carolina. They’re one of the most prolific fish in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly in and around the Chesapeake Bay.
Like their relative Striped Bass, White Perch spend much of their lives in brackish bays and tributaries, then swim upstream to spawn. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in many places, which now has them populating waters beyond their native range as far south as Alabama and west to Colorado.
In fact, they’re so good at adapting to new environments that they’re regarded as an invasive species. This is bad news for some ecosystems, but good news for anglers. The abundance of White Perch combined with their pest status leaves the species relatively unregulated. In some states, there are no size or bag limits for these fish at all!
By the way, did we mention how great they taste? Connoisseurs compare their delicate white meat to Striped Bass. That’s all the more reason to stock your freezer with them!
While there’s much to admire, these “Silvers” aren’t designed to turn heads. They have no distinct features or markings. Really, they’re just small, silver fish. On average they grow 8–10 inches long and clock in at about 1 pound or less. If you catch one that measures 1 foot, go on and celebrate – it’s a trophy.
White Perch vs. White Bass
White Perch don’t just have a confusing name. They’re also confusing to look at because they closely resemble White Bass. Both species show up in the same waters on occasion, particularly in the Great Lakes. Here are a few ways to tell them apart:
- Size. White Perch run much smaller than White Bass, averaging 7–10 inches long while the latter are often 9–15 inches. But, of course, you may catch a juvenile White Bass small enough to make you think it’s Perch!
- Body shape. White Perch are “deepest” just in front of their dorsal fins, giving them a slight teardrop shape compared to stocky White Bass.
- Markings. White Perch have none, while White Bass have faint horizontal stripes.
- Dorsal fins. Look closely and you’ll see that the dorsal fins on White Perch are joined by a thin membrane, but they’re totally separate on Bass.
- Tail fins. White Bass have deep-forked tails, while the tails on White Perch appear almost flat.
For a closer look at these species, see our guide on the differences between White Perch and White Bass.
White Perch vs. Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch are also native to Atlantic coastal rivers. They’re equally abundant and make excellent eating fish, but many people prefer the taste of White Perch. Despite the name, you’re not as likely to confuse Yellow Perch with Silvers, due to their yellow-green color and dark vertical stripes.
Best White Perch Fishing Spots
Ask a local angler where to find the best spot for these fish, and they’ll tell you, “Any place the Perch are!” In other words, there’s no famous go-to spot. White Perch swim all over the eastern states and if you come at the right time of year (which is most of the time), they’re around. That said, we’ll point you in a few directions:
Maryland
At the heart of their native range, Maryland is teeming with White Perch. With so many tidal creeks and rivers to choose from, you’d be hard-pressed not to hook into these fish. You certainly can’t go wrong fishing the Chesapeake Bay. A few well-known spots include Man O’War Shoal, Hart-Miller Island, and the bay bridge pilings.
In addition to the main body of the bay, be sure to cast your line in some of the river mouths. Podickery Point at the mouth of the Magothy River and the knolls at the mouth of the Patapsco River are just a couple of suggestions. It doesn’t hurt to wander upriver a little and fish the local tributaries, either.
There are also plenty of White Perch beyond the Chesapeake Bay, especially in spring when they move upriver. The stretch of the Susquehanna between Lapidum and the I-95 Bridge can be really productive at that time of year, as well as any tidal creek or river. Even metropolitan areas like Baltimore and Annapolis see their share of these fish, making them accessible to visitors.
The season for White Perch is open year-round in Maryland and there’s no size or bag limit for them.
Delaware
Likewise, you can land White Perch in basically any tidal creek or river around Delaware. A good, centralized place for them is Delaware Bay. Anglers often fish for White Perch along the shoreline, from Augustine Beach down to the pier at Woodland Beach.
Just to the north, Reedy Point below Delaware City is a great spot to catch them. This is where the Delaware River meets the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Or head south to the Cape Region, where locals often fish the Broadkill River. You can cast from numerous spots here, including the park in Milton.
When it comes to regulations, White Perch are lumped together with other Panfish, which have no closed season in Delaware. You can keep up to 25 White Perch and 50 Panfish in non-tidal waters. There’s no bag limit when fishing tidal waters. Unlike some other states, Delaware has a minimum size limit for White Perch, which is 8 inches.
New Jersey
New Jersey shares some of the same hotspots as Delaware, such as the latter’s namesake Bay and River. Don’t forget to fish the river’s lower tributaries, as well, including the Mantua and Big Timber Creeks.
Upstate, you have Barnegat Bay and coastal rivers like the Toms, Raritan, and Mullica – all of which are popular fishing spots for White Perch.
White Perch fishing is open year-round in New Jersey and there’s no minimum size limit for them. They’re grouped together with Sunfish and other species that have no specified creel limit, of which you can keep an aggregate of 25 fish per day.
Maine
There’s great White Perch fishing to be had throughout New England. But, if we have to narrow it down, then Maine might just take the cake. The cherry on top is Webb Pond, historically known for trophy Perch that reach 11–13 inches.
If you can’t make it there, worry not. There are many other productive waters, including Annabessacook Lake, the dam in Belgrade Lakes Village, and Middle and South Toddy Pond.
Maine has no size or bag limit for White Perch. Just bear in mind that local lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers are regulated differently. These are divided into a North Zone and South Zone, which have specific seasons when you’re allowed to go fishing.
Lake Champlain
Beyond their native range, White Perch were illegally introduced to some waters in Vermont. Lake Champlain was one of those places, where locals first spotted them in 1984. These fish have since become prolific. And they’re nothing to laugh at either, with some reaching 9–10 inches long.
A few spots to try around the lake include Keeler Bay and the shoreline surrounding Kibbie Point, as well as “The Gut” below Knight Point State Park.
Vermont’s open season and daily bag limit for White Perch depends on specific waters. In Lake Champlain, there’s no size or bag limit for these fish and the season is open year-round.
How to Fish for White Perch
White Perch aren’t picky eaters, so catching them is quite easy and there are many ways to go about it. This makes them the perfect target for beginners.
Shore anglers typically use bottom rigs or bobbers, while boat anglers rely on drifting and bottom fishing. In smaller creeks, you can catch these fish by casting baits and lures. These tiny targets are also perfect for fly fishing in certain conditions. And that’s not all! During winter, you can continue to catch them in many lakes by ice fishing.
As an invasive species, White Perch will venture just about anywhere, from shallow shorelines to freshwater lakes. That can vary on a day-to-day basis, which makes locating them your main challenge.
In spring, you should look for White Perch upriver where they spawn. Outside of this period, however, they’ll be spread quite far afield. You can often find them roaming the same areas as Yellow Perch and Bluegill.
At high tide, Perch come right up to the shoreline, especially where there’s grass for them to hide in. At low tide, they cruise the edge of drop-offs. You can zero-in on them near structure like rocky shorelines, docks, or piers. However, in summer, they seek cover from the sun in shaded areas beneath trees, boat houses, and bridges.
Work your rig in areas like these and vary your retrieval until there’s a bite. If you still haven’t found a school of Perch, go deeper – they may be suspended near the bottom.
In winter, try your luck in areas where streams and rivers run into local lakes, particularly during early- or late-ice conditions. The change in water temperature at these spots often attracts White Perch. Meanwhile, the main body of the lake is more likely to hold them throughout mid-winter.
White Perch Fishing Gear & Bait
You can catch White Perch all day long using a simple, light tackle setup. Most anglers would agree they call for about a 7′ light or ultra-light spinning rod and reel combo. There’s no need to go above a 4 lb mono line or 10 lb braided, and you should use a baitholder hook in size 4–8.
White Perch will readily bite a variety of baits and lures. But, this does require a little bit of know-how… Choosing the best bait depends on the time of year.
Bloodworms are a top choice for summer, along with minnows. Meanwhile, grass shrimp are known to work anytime, anywhere. Additional Perch baits include earthworms, night crawlers, clam snouts, and peeler and soft crabs.
We said these fish aren’t picky and there’s a variety of lures that will get the job done. Many anglers recommend:
- Small spinnerbaits and crankbaits
- Small spoons
- Small stickbaits
- Hair jigs
- 1–2″ swimming plugs
- 1–2″ soft plastics (e.g. paddle tails, twisters, and tube jigs)
- ⅛–¼ oz shad darts tipped with bait
- Chesapeake Sabiki rigs (often tipped with bait as well)
We can’t over-emphasize just how small your baits and lures should be. White Perch are fairly dainty fish with tiny mouths, so you won’t hook them on anything much bigger than a paperclip.
When to Fish for White Perch
You can catch White Perch year-round, so long as you cast for them in the right places. At the start of the year, they populate pretty much every river and feeder creek running into the bays along New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Springtime marks their spawning season, when you’ll find them further upstream than usual. Many anglers consider this period in April and May to be the best time to fish for them.
By summer, White Perch spread out once again, and you might catch them in any number of rivers, lakes, or bays. Fishing continues to be relatively good in the fall, and winter is especially popular because White Perch are active when other fish aren’t.
White Perch feed most actively at dawn or dusk. Some anglers recommend fishing within a few hours of high or low tide, because these fish prefer moving water.
White Perch: A Sterling Opportunity
White Perch certainly won’t win any gold medals for their size. But when it comes to taste and availability, these Silvers are second to none. You may have to mine a little for them but once you do, it really is like striking gold because they feed in large, ravenous schools. As they say, the bite is on – so get ready to enjoy hit after tiny hit!
Have you ever maxed out on your fill of White Perch? Were you surprised to hear they weren’t Perch at all? Let us know all about your experiences in the comments below!
