The white perch occurs along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. They can grow to a length of 15.5 inches with a maximum weight of 2 pounds. They are most plentiful in protected brackish waters and landlocked freshwater ponds, but also occur in marine waters. The freshwater forms are darker in color than those found in marine and brackish waters. Their diet consists of small fish, crustaceans and fish eggs. They spawn in the spring in fresh and brackish water.
They serve an economic importance
to commercial fisheries where they are found in abundance, especially in the Chesapeake Bay.