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Physical Description: � Elongate, nearly round body � Two dorsal fins � Dark blotch at the back of the first dorsal fin � Lower tail lobe white-tipped � Anal fin tip white � Large eye � Terminal mouth � Canine teeth � Pelvic fin larger than pectoral fin � Pale yellow body with gray or brown blotches Similar species: � Sauger (Stizostedion canadense) Mean body size: � Adults are 300-780 mm total length Habitat: � Rivers, lakes, and impoundments � Clean, hard bottoms preferred � Pools, backwaters, and deep runs above and below riffles � Mostly a coolwater fish Distribution in VA: � Native to the Tennessee and Big Sandy drainages, possibly the New � Stocked in Atlantic slope and New drainages � Stocked in many reservoirs in Virginia Food Habits: � May be cannibalistic � Eat mostly fish and some insects, crayfish, and anything else they can get � Feed mostly at dusk and dawn Reproductive Habits: � Mature at age 2 � Spawning occurs in March and early April in water of 2.2-15.6�C � Eggs broadcast over the bottom � Fecundity is about 23,000-615,000 eggs per female Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: � Extirpated from the North Fork Holston River due to pollution � Largest perch in Virginia � Becoming a popular gamefish in Virginia References: Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):
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