South Dakota Confirms New State Record Yellow Perch
OutdoorHub Reporters 03.18.15
South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) confirmed last week that an Aurora angler managed to beat a 16-year-old state record for yellow perch.
“Congrats to Chase Jensen on his new state record yellow perch weighing in at 2 pounds 13 ounces; caught on Saturday up at Bitter Lake. Nice work!” GFP announced on Facebook.
Jenson caught the big perch from Bitter Lake in northeastern South Dakota on March 7, 2015. The state’s previous record, which was also pulled from the same waters, weighed just one ounce less.
Also called lake perch, yellow perch weighs on average 4 to 12 ounces and is one of the most popular panfish in the northern United States. Due to its widespread distribution, perch sizes can vary greatly depending on differences such as water temperature and day length. According to the International Game Fish Association, the current world record for the species belongs to a 4-pound, 3-ounce specimen captured by Dr. C. Abbot in Bordentown, New Jersey. That record, which was documented in 1865, is believed to be the longest standing freshwater record in North America.
For a fish to be considered for state records in South Dakota, the GFP states that the animal must be identified by a fisheries biologist and weighed on a certified scale. Yellow perch during this time of year are especially sought after by anglers due to warming tempratures.
“The yellow perch is one of the most popular and sought after fish in the state. Late ice conditions often put the large, pre-spawn panfish on a feeding frenzy,” said the GFP.
