Norwegian record European perch: 3.17 kg

About European perch

The European perch (Perca fluviatilis) is easy to recognise by the dark vertical bars on its greenish or brownish body, its reddish lower fins and two dorsal fins, the first strongly spined with a black spot at the rear. Size varies enormously: in small ponds where it lives alone, perch often stay at 13–15 cm, while in lakes with plenty of prey fish they can exceed 40 cm. A 1 kg perch is a fine catch, fish over 2 kg or 50 cm are rare, and the maximum is about 60 cm and 4 kg. Its native range covers eastern Norway north to Femunden, the southern coast and parts of Troms and Finnmark, but it has been stocked widely elsewhere. They spawn in spring, draping eggs in long jelly ribbons over plants and twigs. Anglers take them on worms, spoons, jigs and small crankbaits. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Ferskvann
• Best month: Juli

See the species guide

Biggest European perch in FishComp

500 g (16 % of the record) by Simen Vikdal. See the catch

How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.