Unfortunately for many, this very invasive fish has already reached both Nebraska ana Kansas in big numbers. The white perch readily stunts, voraciously eats more desirable fish in their larval and fingerling stages, competes heavily for zooplankton resources and generally supplants walleye, white bass and largemouth bass biomass. Needless to say, all to the fisheries biologist's chagrin.
Interestingly, but maybe not surprisingly, they aren't such a problem in their native East Coast region. They predator prey relationships keep Morone americana's numbers more in check and some areas enjoy good white perch fishing with fish sometimes reaching 2+ pounds. In the right situation they can be good sport and have table quality similar to white bass or striped bass. They can even be crossed with striped bass, but the offspring isn't as usefull as the white bass/striped bass hybrid.
In Kansas and Nebraska they end up in stupendous schools of 3-5 inch fish while walleye and white bass numbers plummet. Hopefully they don't become an issue in Texas.
