When striped bass migrate south each Fall, they leave us to fish for their relative: the white perch. Although white perch don’t hold a candle in size or strength when compared to the striper, with the right gear they’re a ton of fun. They grow between 7 to 10-inches on average, but big ones in the high-teens are not uncommon. Headshakes and small spurts of running drag make white perch a fun wintertime target, and the added bonus is that they taste great when fried up for fish tacos.
White perch are readily available in most brackish creeks, tidal ponds and even some freshwater lakes along much of the striper coast. In this video, Tim Regan uses his lightweight spinning gear and a fly rod to target some exceptionally large and healthy white perch in a local tidal creek on Long Island. Small Rapala’s, hair jigs, nightcrawlers and a variety of other real and artificial baits will get them to bite. Although Regan releases his catches, many anglers will keep them for a fresh “seafood” dinner, especially when there’s not much else readily available this time of year. If you’re thinking about doing a white perch catch and cook, read this recipe from OTW’s Andy Nabreski for a tasty dish.