Geographical distribution
Native across much of Europe and Siberia east to the Kolyma, but not throughout southern Europe. Widely introduced outside that range. French monitoring records widespread presence, not guaranteed occurrence in every waterbody.
- Native range : Europe and Siberia east to the Kolyma
- Documented presence : Metropolitan France
Documented areas, not an exhaustive list. Presence in a region does not imply presence in every water body or permission to fish.
Distribution sources
Identification
Dark vertical bars and two closely spaced dorsal fins.
Habitat
Calm water, deeper areas and submerged cover.
Diet
Larvae, crayfish and fish.
Behaviour
Perch eat invertebrates, crustaceans and small fish. They may gather in shoals, while large individuals can be more solitary. Their hunting relies particularly on sight.
After a bite, remember the direction and approximate depth, then try the same path again. One catch does not prove that a shoal is staying in the same spot.
Indicative biological size
20–40 cm in the Vendée guide; a descriptive range.
Fishing context and precautions
Small lures, streamers or worms.
A distinctive feature
The female lays her eggs in a long gelatinous ribbon attached to vegetation or submerged branches.
Sources and review
Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.
- Fédération de pêche de Vendée — Perche commune · accessed on
- Fédération de Seine-et-Marne — Les carnassiers · accessed on
- Fédération du Morbihan — Carnassiers aux petits leurres (fiche 7) · accessed on
- Fédération de pêche du Morbihan — Techniques de pêche · accessed on
- DORIS — Perche · accessed on
- DORIS / FFESSM — Perche · accessed on
- Service Public — Pêche de loisir à la ligne en eau douce · accessed on