Yellow Perch - 2012

Stock Status - Concern – There has been a significant increase in effort and landings since 1991. Fish are targeted during the winter and early spring during spawning. Yellow perch populations are rather system specific and have been heavily targeted in certain systems. Data are currently not sufficient to evaluate status.

Average Commercial Landings and Value 2002-2011 – 51,627 lbs./$55,935

2011 Commercial Landings and Value – 27,838lbs./$38,554

Average Recreational Landings 2000 - 2011 – Unknown, 2011 - Unknown

Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) – There is no state or federal plan. A state plan was scheduled for development when adequate data became available, however the DMF is proposing to the Marine Fisheries Commission that yellow perch be removed from the FMP list.

Data and Research Needs - validation of juvenile indices, size, age, and sex composition of commercial and recreational harvest, fecundity estimates, updated maturity estimates, gear selectivity estimates, gut content analysis, spawning area surveys, identify movement and migration patterns, evaluate similarities of age, growth, and productivity between waterbodies

Current Regulations - none

Harvest Season - open year round

Size and Age at Maturity - males - 5 inches total length (TL)/2 years; females - 6 inches TL/3-4 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age - 13 years/10 years

Juvenile Abundance index Average 2004 – 2011 – 0.6, 2011 – 0.2 (not validated)

Habits and Habitats – Spawning occurs in rivers and creeks from late January to early March, depending on water temperatures. Eggs are laid in a sticky gelatinous mass. Eggs will hatch into fry in 2-3 weeks, depending on water temperatures. The young form schools and utilize the rivers as a nursery area, as do the adults.

For more information, email Michael Loeffler at Michael.Loeffler@ncdenr.gov or call 800-338-7805 or 252-264-3911.