Hobbies And Interests
Timescale
Yellow perch can live for about 11 years and reach sexual maturity between the ages of 1 and 3 in males and between 2 and 3 in females. In the U.S., spawning takes place once a year in spring, typically in April and May when the water temperature reaches at least 45 F. It usually takes place in the early morning or at night. Female yellow perch are able to spawn up to eight times during their lifetimes.
Habitat
At the arrival of spring, yellow perch move from their deep water winter habitats to shallower water in order to mate. Spawning occurs over gravel, sand, rubble and vegetation at a depth of between 20 inches to 26 feet. The substrate forms an anchor for the long egg strands released by the females, meaning that the fish do not need to build nests.
Behavior
Typically, between two and five males are with each female when she releases her eggs after swimming in a spiral motion and bending herself into a U shape. Once the strand of eggs is free of the female, the watching males release their milt along its length. The jellylike egg mass can reach up to 20 feet long and contains an average of about 23,000 eggs. Females leave immediately after the release of their eggs. Males tend to remain in the spawning grounds but do not guard the eggs.
Diet
The normal feeding patterns and activities of yellow perch are disturbed during spawning season. Normally, very young perch feed on zooplankton before switching to macro-invertebrates such as mosquitoes and midges at the age of 1. Older yellow perch swallow their prey whole and normally feed on larger invertebrates, crayfish, immature insects and other fish during the day.