Ask an angler in Michigan and a chef in New York "what do Americans call perch?" and you'll get different answers. That's because the term "perch" in the U.S. is a classic case of common name confusion, wrapping up native favorites, imported species, and regional slang into one messy bundle. If you're trying to buy the right bait, follow a recipe, or just understand what you're catching, this naming puzzle matters. Let's cut through the noise.

The Main Event: America's True "Perch"

In most of the United States, when someone says "perch" without any other descriptor, they are almost always talking about the yellow perch (Perca flavescens). This is the default. It's a freshwater fish native to the northern U.S. and Canada, especially famous in the Great Lakes region. Its name comes from its distinctive coloration: olive-green back with 6-8 dark vertical bands, and that signature yellow to brassy-gold on its sides and belly. The pelvic and anal fins are often a bright orange-yellow.

There's also the white perch (Morone americana), but it's a different story. Despite the name, it's not a true perch; it's actually a member of the temperate bass family, related to striped bass. It's found in brackish and fresh waters along the Atlantic Coast. People call it a perch because of its general shape and size, but biologists will tell you it's an imposter. In regions where it's common, like the Chesapeake Bay, "perch" might mean this fish, but locals usually specify "white perch."

Yellow Perch vs. White Perch: A Quick Side-by-Side

The European Cousin: An Import with an Identity Crisis

Now, here's where it gets tricky for the global audience. The fish much of the world simply calls "perch" is the European perch (Perca fluviatilis). It's the iconic fish across Europe and northern Asia. Americans, however, almost never call it just "perch." We use its full name: European perch, or sometimes redfin perch (highlighting its vividly colored fins).

Why the distinction? Because it's not native here. It has been introduced to some waters, like reservoirs in the western U.S. (e.g., Lake Tahoe area), but it's not widespread. In those specific locations, anglers know exactly what they're catching and use the proper name. If you walk into a tackle shop in California and ask for "perch rigs," they'll assume you mean for saltwater perch (a whole other group!). You must say "European perch."

The "Imposters": Other Fish Often Called Perch

American fishing slang is a creative, sometimes maddening, thing. Several other popular fish get the "perch" nickname attached, mainly due to their spiny dorsal fins and general panfish profile.

• Walleye (Sander vitreus): This is the big one. Walleye is the yellow perch's larger, more prized cousin in the same family. In some Canadian regions and parts of the northern U.S., you might hear old-timers call them "yellow pike" or even "pickerel." But rarely just "perch." The confusion comes from their relatedness, not their common name.
• Sacramento Perch (Archoplites interruptus): A California endemic now. It's not a true perch but the only sunfish native west of the Rockies. It got the "perch" name from early settlers due to its spiny dorsal fin.
• Saltwater Perch: This is a massive category of unrelated marine fish that simply look perch-like. This includes Surfperch (family Embiotocidae) on the Pacific Coast and White perch (already mentioned) on the Atlantic. In coastal towns, "perch fishing" means going after these saltwater species.

See the problem? Context is everything. Are you on a Great Lakes pier, a California jetty, or an Appalachian stream? The local definition of "perch" shifts.

Fishing Differences: Why the Name Changes Your Strategy

This isn't just academic. What you call the fish dictates how you catch it.

Targeting Yellow Perch

You're looking for schools over sandy or gravelly bottoms near weed lines, especially in cooler water. The classic rig is a simple spreader or crappie rig with small hooks (#6 to #10), baited with live minnows, worms, or tiny soft plastic grubs. It's a finesse game with light line. Ice fishing for them is a huge culture in the Midwest. They bite in winter, and shanties dot frozen lakes everywhere.

Targeting White Perch

These are aggressive feeders in brackish rivers and estuaries. You can use similar bait, but they also hammer small spinners, spoons, and jigs. They often school tightly, so when you find one, you find dozens. They fight harder than a yellow perch of the same size, in my experience.

Targeting (Introduced) European Perch

In Western reservoirs, they behave like their European ancestors—ambush predators. They'll hit small crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and larger jigs more readily than yellow perch. Think of them as a midpoint between a yellow perch and a walleye in terms of aggression.

Buying & Eating: Navigating the Fish Market

At the seafood counter, the rule is simpler. In the U.S., "perch" fillets are almost always yellow perch, particularly from the Great Lakes commercial fishery. It's a premium, sweet, flaky white fish. You might see "Lake Erie perch" advertised at a premium price—that's the gold standard.

If you see "white perch," it will be labeled as such and is usually from East Coast fisheries. It's also excellent eating, slightly firmer and with a more pronounced flavor.

You will almost never see "European perch" for sale in a standard American supermarket. It's not a commercial species here.

My personal take? Yellow perch is one of the finest eating freshwater fish in North America. It beats walleye for sweetness, in my opinion, though it has more bones to navigate. A classic Friday night fish fry in Wisconsin or Michigan is built around beer-battered yellow perch, not cod or tilapia.

So, What's the Final Answer?

What do Americans call perch? It depends.

For the angler in the Midwest and Northeast: Yellow perch.
For the angler on the Atlantic Coast: Possibly white perch.
For the angler in a western reservoir with introduced fish: European perch.
For the shopper at the grocery store: Yellow perch.
For the saltwater angler on either coast: A variety of marine surfperch.

The umbrella term "perch" collapses under the weight of America's diverse fisheries. The key is to add the color, the region, or the specific name. When in doubt, ask for clarification. Show a picture. It saves time, money, and ensures you're all talking about the same wonderful, confusing, delicious fish.