Editing White perch

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2015}}
{{Speciesbox
 | image               = Morone americana PAQ.jpg
 | image_caption       = 
 | status              = LC
 | status_system       = IUCN3.1
 | status_ref          = <ref name="iucn status 18 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=NatureServe |date=2013 |title=''Morone americana'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T184088A18231622 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T184088A18231622.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>
 | taxon               = Morone americana
 | authority           = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|J. F. Gmelin]], 1789)
 | synonyms            = {{Specieslist
| Perca americana | J. F. Gmelin, 1789
| Roccus americanus | (J. F. Gmelin, 1789)
| Perca immaculata | [[Johann Julius Walbaum|Walbaum]], 1792
| Morone rufa | [[Samuel L. Mitchill|Mitchill]], 1814
| Morone pallida | Mitchill, 1814
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Morone|americana|month=February|year=2023}}</ref>
}}

The '''white perch''' ('''''Morone americana''''') is not a true [[Percidae|perch]] but is a fish of the temperate bass family, [[Moronidae]], notable as a food and game fish in eastern [[North America]]. In some places it is referred to as "Silver Bass".{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

The common name "white perch" is sometimes applied to the [[white crappie]] (''Pomoxis annularis'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/wcp/|title=White Crappie (''Pomoxis annularis'')|website=Texas Parks and Wildlife|access-date=12 February 2023|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department}}</ref>

== Description ==
Generally silvery-white in color, hence the name, depending upon habitat and size specimens have begun to develop a darker shade near the dorsal fin and along the top of the fish. This sometimes earns them the nickname "black-back". White perch have been reported up to {{convert|49.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing {{convert|2.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maryland Fish Facts |url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/fish-facts.aspx?fishname=White+Perch |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Maryland Department of Natural Resources |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Ecology ==
Although favoring [[brackish]] waters, it is also found in [[fresh water]] and [[coast]]al areas from the [[St. Lawrence River]] and [[Lake Ontario]] south to the [[Pee Dee River]] in [[South Carolina]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=777|title=''Morone americana'' (Gmelin, 1789)|website=Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|location=Gainesville, Florida|author1=P. Fuller|author2=E. Maynard|author3=D. Raikow|author4=J. Larson|author5=A. Fusaro|author6=M. Neilson|author7=A. Bartos|access-date=14 October 2023|date=30 August 2023|orig-date=Peer reviewed on 12 April 2013}}</ref> and as far east as [[Nova Scotia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huot |first=Jesse |date=2023-12-28 |title=Sportfishing season opens New Year's Day in Nova Scotia |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/sportfishing-season-opens-new-year-s-day-in-nova-scotia-1.6703537 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=CTV News |language=en}}</ref> They are also found in the lower [[Great Lakes]], [[Finger Lakes]], [[Long Island Sound]] and nearby coastal areas, [[Hudson River|Hudson]] and [[Mohawk River]] system, [[Delaware Bay]] and [[Chesapeake Bay]]. It is also found occasionally in small landlocked lakes and ponds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=White Perch |url=https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fishes-of-connecticut/white-perch |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en}}</ref>

==Diet==
White perch are known to [[egg predation|eat the eggs]] of many species native to the [[Great Lakes]], such as [[walleye]] and other true [[perch]]es. At times, [[fish egg]]s are 100% of their diet. They prefer to eat small [[minnow]]s like [[Umbra (fish)|mudminnows]] and [[fathead minnow]]s.

In the Chesapeake Bay, white perch commonly prey upon [[grass shrimp]], [[razor clam]]s, and [[Glycera (genus)|bloodworm]]s which are all common to the region. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Charlie |first=Chum |date=July 24, 2023 |title=How to Catch a White Perch |url=https://catchandfillet.com/how-to-catch-white-perch/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Catch & Fillet }}</ref>

==Reproduction==
White perch are a prolific species. The female can deposit over 150,000 eggs in a [[spawn (biology)|spawn]]ing session, lasting just over a week. Several males will often attend a spawning female, and each may fertilize a portion of her eggs. The young hatch within one to six days of fertilization.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

At times, a [[parasite]] known as ''[[Lironeca ovalis]]'' is located in the [[gill]]s. Its presence is believed to reduce the growth rate of white perch.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sadzikowski|first1=Mark R.|last2=Wallace|first2=Dale C.|title=The Incidence of ''Lironeca ovalis'' (Say) (Crustacea, Isopoda) and Its Effects on the Growth of White Perch, ''Morone americana'' (Gmelin), in the Delaware River near Artificial Island|volume=15|issue=3|pages=163–165|journal=Chesapeake Science|jstor=1351036|doi=10.2307/1351036|year=1974|bibcode=1974CpkSc..15..163S }}</ref>

The white perch is currently recovering from a loss of population in the [[Hudson River]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/01/realestate/kingston-ny-a-historic-hudson-city-preparing-for-better-opportunities.html|title=Kingston, N.Y.: A Historic Hudson City 'Preparing for Better Opportunities'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 2021|last1=Caldwell|first1=Dave|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Aquatic nuisance species==
[[File:White perch GLERL.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Morone americana'']]
Some states consider the white perch to be a nuisance species due to its ability to destroy fisheries. They have been associated with the declines in both walleye and white bass populations because they feed heavily on [[Bait fish|baitfish]] used by those species and outcompete them for food and space.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=22553 |title=Invasive.org, White Perch |date=October 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref> Many states have enacted laws forbidding possession of live white perch. Additionally, these states recommend not releasing captured white perch back into the water to help control its spread.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Aquatic-Nuisance-Species/Aquatic-Nuisance-Species-List/White-Perch |title=Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks |date=July 18, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref>

<!-- not encyclopedic == Recreational fishing ==
For [[recreational fishing|recreational]] [[angling]], white perch put up a great fight for their size, are extremely aggressive and easy to catch on many [[soft plastic lure]]s rigged on [[jighead]]s. Even 4" white perch will attack a 2-3" [[fishing lure|lure]] many times on the same retrieve and hook themselves with the slightest [[hookset]]. They can also be caught on [[live food|live]] [[fishing bait|bait]] such as [[Glycera (annelid)|bloodworm]]s, [[nightcrawler]]s, [[halfbeak|spipe]]s or [[mackerel]] on small [[fish hook|hook]]s or double [[fishing rig|rig]]s through the ice.

White perch also have a hard, scaly body that, along with their sharp fins, protects them from predators. When removing a white perch from a hook, one should hold the [[fishing line|line]] gently in one hand and gently slide the other hand downward from beginning at the fish's nose while curling the thumb and touching the middle finger. Doing so will gently collapse the spined dorsal fin and prevent an unexpected prick injuries.

White perch are a popular [[delicacy]] for Chesapeake Bay fisherman and in many locations are considered a local favorite for a [[fish fry]], [[breading|breaded]] and [[baking|baked]], or even [[grilling|grilled]] with [[lemon juice]] and some freshly chopped [[vegetable]]s. The raw meat is of a somewhat pinkish hue, but when cooked, it is white and flaky. -->

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Morone americana}}
* [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/whiteperch.asp  DNR.state.md: White perch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104122344/http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/whiteperch.asp |date=2014-01-04 }}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2337531}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:White Perch}}
[[Category:Morone]]
[[Category:Fish of North America|Perch, white]]
[[Category:Fish of the Eastern United States|Perch, white]]
[[Category:Fish of the Great Lakes]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1789]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin]]