Sac Perch posted on AOTY boards!

With the recent Sac Perch posts, I really want to catch one now.  Sounds like San Luis Res might be a decent local option.  Any other intel on how to target them?

-Allen

I only know how to catch babies Allen.  I had a 5 incher take a 2 inch trolled Rapala in a brook trout pattern.  Kinda surprised me.  I have read-light line near in the morning and evening are best. Additionally they are like crappie in that they will orient near submerged rocks and structure.

Good luck,
Aaron

Most of the Sac perch I've caught were in less than six FOW, and were usually adjacent to either boulders or submerged bushes.  They don't seem too picky: I've caught them on everything from small Rooster Tails to Gulp minnows to Rapalas.  Even caught one last summer on a mealworm mooching 30 feet deep!  According to their bio, they're primarily fish-eaters so small minnow imitations are a good bet.  They'll form loose groups when spawning time is near in the spring, but the rest of the year they seem to lead solitary lives.

My best success on Sac perch has been right around the spawn in mid- to late-spring when they're headed into shallow coves.  After that, I've picked some up fishing around large boulder-strewn shorelines.  They like to hang real close to structure, kinda like a rockfish.  I think the biggest obstacles with consistently catching them are 1) they don't typically school like other panfish, and 2) finding a water body that still has decent numbers of them.  According to the lit, Sac perch are poor competitors with non-native centrarchids.  The best place I've heard of in CA for Sac perch is Crowley Lake.

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centrarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

I know CADFW is doing something similar in an attempt to save Sac Perch genetic diversity.  The biggest problem they are experiencing is the introduction of other centrarchids.

For me to target them I'd just run up to Crowley, supposedly tons of em in there and sizable enough to eat.  I've never tried one before so I'd like to see what they're like.

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

I know CADFW is doing something similar in an attempt to save Sac Perch genetic diversity.  The biggest problem they are experiencing is the introduction of other centrarchids.

Makes sense to me, but how do they save the genetic diversity?  What is their broodstock? are they capturing live perch for breeding?

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

I know CADFW is doing something similar in an attempt to save Sac Perch genetic diversity.  The biggest problem they are experiencing is the introduction of other centrarchids.

Makes sense to me, but how do they save the genetic diversity?  What is their broodstock? are they capturing live perch for breeding?

They have been taking perch from isolated populations that may be in jeopardy, and introducing them to farm ponds.

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

I know CADFW is doing something similar in an attempt to save Sac Perch genetic diversity.  The biggest problem they are experiencing is the introduction of other centrarchids.

Makes sense to me, but how do they save the genetic diversity?  What is their broodstock? are they capturing live perch for breeding?

They have been taking perch from isolated populations that may be in jeopardy, and introducing them to farm ponds.

So you gonna tell us where these isolated populations are and whether they are kayak targetable?  you know my love of native fishes.

Yeah Sac Perch really are a fascinating species, in that they are ridiculously fickle and have almost zero ability to survive against any other centarchid.  There was a great study done by UCD in 2008 where they tried to reintroduce perch to something like 10 farm ponds and the various failures.  I think only 3 of 10 of the ponds had a viable population by the end of the study, primarily due to water level issues (sac perch have difficulty surviving high water temps) and competition from bluegill and green sunfish.

I know CADFW is doing something similar in an attempt to save Sac Perch genetic diversity.  The biggest problem they are experiencing is the introduction of other centrarchids.

Makes sense to me, but how do they save the genetic diversity?  What is their broodstock? are they capturing live perch for breeding?

They have been taking perch from isolated populations that may be in jeopardy, and introducing them to farm ponds.

So you gonna tell us where these isolated populations are and whether they are kayak targetable?  you know my love of native fishes.

I don't know off hand, but I would be more than happy to find out.  I am of the opinion that Sac perch are better off if they are viewed as a valuable sport fishery.

I've never tried one before so I'd like to see what they're like.

I cooked up a couple last year.  They produce white, flaky fillets.  Very tasty!

With the recent Sac Perch posts, I really want to catch one now.  Sounds like San Luis Res might be a decent local option.  Any other intel on how to target them?

The dad caught his on a minnow while targeting stripers. Apparently, it was pretty hefty.

With the recent Sac Perch posts, I really want to catch one now.  Sounds like San Luis Res might be a decent local option.  Any other intel on how to target them?

The dad caught his on a minnow while targeting stripers. Apparently, it was pretty hefty.

Can you say what part of San Luis?

-Allen

Ive done tons of minnow drifting, fluke throwing, an small rapala trolling on san luis an never seen one there. Im very hopefull now tho.

Caught a starry flounder in San Luis about 20yrs ago!

The dad caught his on a minnow while targeting stripers. Apparently, it was pretty hefty.

Can you say what part of San Luis?
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I'll try to coax the loc. out of him. He thought it was a crappie; someone else ID'd it. Might have been the only one in there!