Perch and Haddock are widely available fish in the world. The Perch is a freshwater ray-finned fish, while Haddock is a saltwater fish. There is a variety of Perch fish, but the most common is the Yellow Perch and Nile perch. Both Perch and Haddock bear striking similarities and differences. They are not only commercially important but also act as mouth-watering delicacies.
Perch fish belongs to the Percidae family. They are ray-finned deep-bodied fish with at least one sharp spine on the fins and have ctenoid scales. They are separated into smaller and larger perches and have variable appearances ranging from shades of ton or white, yellow tinge, to black or grayish speckles colors. Perch are a freshwater species common in open waters like lakes, streams, canals, and ponds. They are distributed worldwide but very prevalent in Arctic Canada, parts of the Black Sea, Northeastern USA, northern Mexico, tributaries of the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, and many other areas.
The Haddock is part of the true cod family, Gadidae. It has a streamlined body, dark purple and grayish on the sides and top with a silver-grey lateral line. Haddock inhabit off the coast of Europe, the North-west Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, Barents Sea. They are common in the deeper temperate Northern Atlantic waters but tend to shoal loosely at the depths of 40 meters up to 300 meters.
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Physical Description
Perch has enlarged but compressed or laterally flattened bodies. It has large and well-developed anal spines and ctenoid scales. The anal fin has one to two spines. The lateral line is shortened. It does not extend up to the caudal fin. They possess two dorsal fins that are narrowly joined or separated. Perch has five soft rays, spiny pelvic fins, one caudal fin with rounded tips or lopes, a large mouth, and conspicuous eyes. They average about 7 to 10 inches long.
Haddock is easily distinguishable from the rest of the coastal fish by its long streamlined body, two anal, and three dorsal fins. While in the Perch, the dorsal and anal fins are closely attached, in Haddock, they are a small concave gap. The dorsal fin has no spines. The front dorsal fin has a triangular shape and is taller than the other two, and the middle one is the largest of all. Haddock tend to have a uniform color; dark purple-grey upper, white lower part, and a lateral line that radiates pinkish reflections. Some may have mottled markings. The mouth is small with a pointed snout, and the eyes are conspicuously large. The maximum length of Haddock is 44 centimeters long.
Habitats
Both perch and Haddock are bottom-dwelling fish. Perch are bad swimmers. Thus, they inhabit shallow areas of the lakes and tributary streams. Haddock is found in the deep, cool, calm sea and oceanic waters with a preference for 40m to 300m because they are good swimmers. Unlike the small Perch, the big ones have well-developed swim bladders that allow them to float on water. However, they inhabit shallow areas of the lakes and tributary streams. The smaller perches consist of 18 small, colorful, and darting fish species and have adapted to life at the bottom of streams because of lack of a well-developed swim bladder. Perch love still or calm water, and adult perches tend to frequent waters close to shores or quiet streams at day time. They move in schools of about 50-200 of the same age and size. At night they move to the bottom but up to 10 feet deep. Like the Perches, the Haddock tends to move to the offshore banks.
However, they are limited to about 133 to 460 feet deep. The difference is that Haddock stay in the ocean bed at day and move up the water column at night while Perch moves upwards during the day and remains still at the water bed at night. Both Haddock and Perch, predominantly yellow Perch, will swim to deep water where the temperature is colder.
Haddock are common in ocean floors with smooth sand, pebbles, sticky sand, broken shells, gravel, or smooth areas between rocks. They lack compact schools. Perch prefer water beds with weeds, shrubs, shells, rock piles, and reefs.
Both Haddock and Perch do not make long-distance migration but only do so seasonally when hunting for favorable feeding, spawning, and temperature conditions.
Feeding
Both Haddock and Perch are carnivores. Haddock feed mainly on small, slow-moving invertebrates like small crabs, sea worms, starfish, amphipods, sea urchins, snails, sand dollars, and shrimps. The larger species tend to feed on fish.
Haddock feed by burrowing the bottom of the sea. Hence they are referred to as the “carp of the sea.” Food type varies according to bottom type. Fish takes a meager part of their feeding program.
Unlike Haddock, Perch eats zooplankton at a young age then switch to benthic macro-invertebrates, and finally fish. Since Perch are poor swimmers, they use shoaling to enhance feeding success. At an older age, Perch feed mainly on shrimps and fish like crayfish and juvenile fish.
Fishing
Both Perch and Haddock have significant commercial and recreational value and are caught through various fishing methods. Perch is caught mainly through lure and float fishing. Bait fishing also works. It entails strategically placing the bait, especially where there are schools of Perch and jerking the rod. However, an angler must be careful when fishing Perches because they tend to swallow the hook. The good thing is that they always easily fall for various baits like maggots, worms, crayfish, and maggots but can be bait stealers. The most common Perch to be caught weigh around 0.45 kilograms or one pound.
On the contrary, Haddock is caught mainly by trawlers of up to 125 feet. Rope netting is also another effective fishing method for Haddock. In addition, fish traps, gill nets, and longlines can be used when looking to catch just a small amount of Haddock.
Still, fishing arbitrarily is not allowed. There is a catch limit for Perch and tight regulations guiding haddock fishing.
Taste
Perch and Haddock make great meals even though they taste differently. They have a firm, flaky texture but turn smooth when cooked. Perch tastes sweet than Haddock, and it is the reason it is in high demand. It tastes mildly sweet, while Haddock tastes salty with a mild flavor. Both have dense whitish flesh and are easy to prepare. The best way to prepare Perch is by frying, cooking, grilling, and boiling. If looking to utilize Haddock’s most significant taste, prepare it by smoking and drying.
Smoked haddock
It is easy to differentiate Perch from Haddock because of its distinctive features. However, choosing one over the other is not an easy task because they both make exquisite delicacies. A balance between salt and smoke gives Haddock a pleasant and memorable taste. As for Perch, it is one of the best fish for pan frying.
Fried perch
Conclusion
Now you know the differences and similarities between these two wonderful fish. If you ever get the chance to see them in the grocery store, or catch them when you are fishing, you’ll have a frame of reference to go by!