Popular for Sport and Food

Perch are a famous freshwater game fish, with many species resembling it; however, there are only three actual species which occur in different geographical areas around the world: Europe, Asia, and North America. They are abundantly distributed in freshwater lakes throughout these regions and are popular for both sport fishing and for food. They are easily identifiable by their somewhat long, rounded bodies, two dorsal fins of which the first is spiny and the second soft, and black vertical stripes.

These carnivorous fish prefer to inhabit the quieter areas of ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. If you wish to go diving with perch, the spring is a great time to see them as they become more active and gather in larger numbers to spawn. If you have always wanted to dive with them, explore the map below for the most popular diving destinations.