The preferred size is 1 lb. and up, but they are delicious at any size. The smaller ones we scale and fry the larger ones can be filleted. Your southern buddies are right about the difference in taste, boot leather is a better comparison! They are a top line competitor with bass and in a pond this size don't let them go long before you check on the size and numbers. I stocked a 7 ac. pond with 120 4-6 inch sacalait one year and the next year the owner harvested about 400 1-1.5 pound perch. Mucho Good Eatin!!!
