Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Yellow Perch - How far south

Bill, they do not live in saltwater but will go into moderately brackish waters. I believe YP need almost completely freshwater to spawn. Hence their larger migratory runs out of the brackish lower river waters up to near the fall line where the waters are pure freshwater. Plus, in these areas the habitat is better suited to survival of their eggs and act as a better nursery for their YOY.

I have caught many migratory coastal YP from different rivers in the Chesapeake Bay. They're found in all the major eastern rivers down into South Carolina. I don't think they get any larger than landlocked YP. From having gutted a number of coastal YP at different times of year, they seem to feed very heavily on grass shrimp and scuds, both of which are very common in the coastal waters. They also have good numbers of fish prey in their stomachs. When I can ID the species, they are usually spottail shiners, silvery minnows and juvenile river herring.

They do survive just fine in inland ponds. Almost any reservoir in our area has YP in it and not from a stocking program. Mostly from either native YP being trapped above the dam or anglers catching these coastal YP and bucket stocking them into the reservoir. Kenc has a large, 12+ acre pond that sometimes gets flood waters from the Mattaponi River into it. If it is during the early spring when the YP are making their spawning runs, he'll end up with large numbers of large YP in his pond. These YP do fine, however because of the healthy LMB population in his pond the YP probably aren't reproducing successfully. If there was weed cover and less large LMB in his pond, I see no reason why he wouldn't have a reproducing YP population of "coastal YP" genetics. The biggest limiting factor for YP in our area is even though they are genetically adapted to warmer waters, the larger perch still are affected by extremely high temps.

CJBS -Good summary - thanks.

Gentlemen, thanks for the great response, I was out of town so I am just getting back to the forum.

The property is in Nathalie, VA which is about 2 1/2 hours SW of Aylett, about 30 min south of Lynchburg.

It sounds like YP/SMB is a definite possiblity. I grew up catching SMB out of the Potomac near Little Orleans/Pawpaw and I have always loved to catch them!

Nc, you should get in touch with Deadwood on this forum. He is in your area and wants to do the same thing. I have a tree farm in Nelson co. that I wanted to do the same too but won't do anything this year. Good luck.

Could yellow perch survive/thrive in hot water climates? I know almost nothing about them.

They're found native as far south as coastal SC. An area where CNBG and FL LMB do great. I think they may be limited to about 12" max south in the far south.

12 inch YP seems pretty nice to me, I sure wish I could have some in my pond...something to hammer the GAMS. I might be a little hot for them. If the pond was deeper and aerated I they prob would survive OK?

Bobby, there was a fish hatchery in the panhandle that I was going to bring some Yp to Va. a couple of years ago but decided to have surgery instead. Could have been Allstate but I threw the info away.

I doubt YP would make a dent in your gams any more than your HBG, tarpon or other fish you have. Gams seems to thrive even in the most bass crowded ponds.

From the standpoint of avoiding predation, why do gams thrive when fatheads disappear? What differentiates the 2?

I know Gams are faster, and since they give birth live, there's no need to hang around a nest and be a sitting target.

That's all I could come up with. CJ?

FHM are open water swimmers and are slower, one would say kinda stupid almost...

GAMS are much faster and seem to hover the very surface of the water. this gives them and advantage I think as I have seen them jump right out of the water to avoid being sucked into a predators mouth.

Gams stay in and inch or two of water and do just dine. FHM will not go that shallow, except when being actively chased, often by then it's too late. And I believe the live bearer attribute helps as well...