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White Perch (Morone Americana)
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White Perch were once very plentiful in most brackish rivers and estuaries. As a kid I would fish for these on the Cape with grass shrimp and chubs, and I can say that the fishing was incredible. Now a days white perch aren't as plentiful due to poor management and commercial value. Even tho you can still catch whites in brackish waters, there numbers and sizes are very low compared to that of 20 years ago.
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| Most successful trophy White Perch fishing is now done mostly inland with places like Wachusett and Quabbin Reservoirs and a few ponds on the Cape. Though many bodies of waters across the state still have numerous amounts of White Perch most are stunned fish due to over population.The best time I find to fish for Whites is during the spring as they set up to spawn at Wachusett Reservoir.
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Whites like to move into the shallows during low light and then return to the deep by day, so the window here is a small one. Since Wachusett Reservoir does not allow night fishing. Even though White Perch can be found in some of its coves, most of the fishing is done at the Thomas Basin. Both shiners and crawlers blown a few feet of the bottom while rigged on a sliding egg sinker rig are responsible for most catches. If looking for white perch for the table I recommend fishing and keeping the smaller perch from waters that are over run and letting the bigger spawning fish go.
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IGFA World Record: 4lbs 12oz, Mrs. Earl Small Messalonskee Lake, ME 1949
NFWHF World Record:
State Records
ME: 4lbs 10oz, Messalonskee, Mrs. Earl Small, 1959
NH: 3lbs 11.5oz, Winnipesaukee, John J.Ziolkowski, 1986
MA: 3lbs 2oz, wachusett Reservoir, Ray Richford, 1994
RI: 2lbs
CT: 2lbs 15oz, Candlewood Lake, Don Loftus Jr., 1996
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Courtesy of Mass wildlife
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