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Yellow Perch
Robert Colletta; https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/images/photos/may14/d3149-1/ / EOL (Public Domain) · PUBLIC_DOMAIN

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

pike
  • Look for a golden-yellow body with several dark vertical bars (stripes) running down the sides — this striped pattern is the most recognizable feature.
  • The fish has two separate dorsal fins: the first is spiny and the second is soft-rayed, a classic perch family trait.
  • Compared to the closely related European perch, yellow perch are morphologically very similar, so range and location are key — yellow perch are a North American species found in freshwater lakes and rivers.
  • Adults are typically small, running 4–10 inches long, which helps rule out larger perch-like species in the same water.