As the lake thaws and Lent begins, one fish swims to the top of Clevelanders’ minds. Yellow perch from Lake Erie is savored more than most fish. This Northeast Ohio favorite can be found battered and fried all over the area in Lenten fish fries in the spring and served up in various ways through the fall.
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Mysterious Perch
Lake Erie yellow perch are a mysterious species of fish compared to other Great Lakes favorites like walleye, says Ann Marie Gorman, fisheries biology supervisor with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “We don’t have quite as much behavioral information about perch, but one thing I find interesting is that the oldest yellow perch we’ve caught in our surveys was 15 years old.”
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Cleaner Water, Healthier Fish
Lake Erie’s water pollution levels are still above target levels for some contaminants but has greatly improved in recent years. “We’re vastly better than we were when I was a kid in the '70s,” says Gorman, “but if we look at fish consumption advisories like the amount of meals per week, that’s improved, which is a good indication.” As water quality continues to improve, fish like yellow perch reap those benefits.
Sustainable Limits
Anglers in Ohio can keep up to 30 perch per day through April, except between the areas around Huron and Fairport where the limit is 10. Total allowable catch limits are determined yearly to ensure sustainable harvest levels. “On May 1, bag limits may change depending on the population estimate each year,” says Gorman. “That’s what we’re working on right now.”
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Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct one of Gorman's quotes about population, not pollution.
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