Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Warning...not big bluegills...but giant perch!

As this isn't about bluegills or sunfish...but about another of those colorful "panfish", I apologize ahead of time if this isn't entirely appropriate. Don't read further if you'll be offended.

These are of the European Yellow Perch which is a closely related but separate species (depending on the source) to the yellow perch found in North America. But these things can grow large. One record I saw said the fish was 23.6"!! I don't recall the weight, but apparently up to and possibly over 10 lbs!

I personally would be interested in having this introduced into the US...I mean, nobody asked us if we wanted Carp introduced! Or... I'd be interested to see what a hybrid between the 2 species would produce.

Who wouldn't want to catch a few of these?? (these were "captured" from a slideshow on YouTube, and the creators are apparently from a European country)

As far as fish porn goes, these really impressed me, and I felt the need to share.







The heads on some of these things are so big, they look like bass!!

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Comment by Douglas Buck on January 8, 2009 at 9:15am
I'm skeptical about anything being introduced to a new environment, whether it be plant or animal. What effect will it have on the food chain? People should take advantage of what is already available, walleye for instance.
Comment by David Merical on December 3, 2008 at 8:47am
That's a jumbo perch, Nate!! I do believe that's "wall-worthy"!
Comment by Justin Gloede on December 2, 2008 at 9:22pm
we've got access to a lake thats land locked thats got some perch 12+ in it up here.. its impressive saw em on camera last winter.
Comment by IowaNate on December 2, 2008 at 8:06pm

Gotta post this photo of a 14.5" monster that was cuaght when fishing for bluegill on the Mississippi River in Guttenberg , Iowa.
Comment by Frosch on October 31, 2008 at 3:07pm
I'm drooling thinking of the filets off those perch. Bruce I bet your Dad knows where that photo is hidden.;)
Comment by Bruce Condello on October 31, 2008 at 10:02am
I'd also look up "Donaldson Strain Steelhead Rainbow Trout". Fascinating story about Lauren Donaldson from Washington University and how he used genetic selection to create a super fast growing strain. They're still in use today. There's actually a photo of Donaldson Steelhead somewhere hidden on this site! ;)
Comment by Zig on October 31, 2008 at 7:51am
Dave - search for "triploid". I believe this (trout)strain may be what you are referring to.
Add heat - stop reproduction - make big..............very big.
Comment by David Merical on October 31, 2008 at 7:29am
Thanks Bruce! Maybe a little creative genetic selection on someone's part could create a North American strain with this desired size characteristic?

Bruce, you're probably familiar with this...some university lab developed a genetic strain of rainbow trout (I think), that was altered to improve the food intake vs. weight gain ratio. The fish they produced were really fat and fast-growing. I read this and saw the pictures many years ago, and can't readily find the source.

I did just find something about Koi that relates to what you've said about bluegills. Koi growth rates slow considerable once the fish reaches maturity. Therefore, delaying maturation should result in a larger fish at a given age. In a natural system, is there any way to delay fish (bluegill) maturation, or perhaps simply selectively breed fish that are slow to mature AND have high growth rates? I assume this is exactly what you are doing now, right?
Comment by Bruce Condello on October 30, 2008 at 4:25pm
Here's an excellent link with some discussion.

Click HERE
Comment by Bruce Condello on October 30, 2008 at 3:15pm
...or walleye! Those things are amazing. I know there have been efforts to bring them to the U.S. I'll try to find a little information on Pond Boss forums, because I know it's been discussed there.

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