The prices reflect their relative abundance and the simple fact, obvious to fish aficionados, that yellow perch taste better than white. Fred Snyder, Ohio Sea Grant extension specialist, says he first saw this capitalizing on perch's good name and reputation for good eating back in the early '80s. It was bound to happen here. But Snyder points out that white perch does have its own legitimate market. Commercial fisherman can't keep up with the white perch demand.
Yellow perch are native to Lake Erie and have always been an important fishery.
White perch, on the other hand, invaded the lake sometime in the 1950s and have proliferated only since the '70s. They are now the second most abundant fish in the lake after gizzard shad, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.