Fish

Yellow Perch

A tier

Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is the North American counterpart to European perch—small, sweet, firm fillets beloved in Great Lakes fish fries and Midwest shore lunches. The flesh is white, mild, and slightly denser than many panfish. Light breading and shallow frying are traditional; baking works for larger fillets. Supply is mostly wild and seasonal; some aquaculture exists. Pin bones are small—good processors remove them. Yellow perch commands high prices relative to size because demand is strong.