American sun perch in Ukraine. Can I eat sun perch and how to catch it?

In the lower reaches of many of the north-western rivers flowing into the Black Sea, there is often a water inhabitant, whom the locals call a king. This fish is a sun bass, so named for its unusually beautiful color.

History of the American guest

For the first time tsars were brought to Russia in 1965 from the reservoirs of the Prut floodplain . Their homeland is North America. Initially, they appeared in Europe, where in 1877, for the first time they obtained offspring from them. Soon the sun perch began to grow in ponds, and after hitting the Danube, settled in the lower reaches of the rivers flowing into the north-western part of the Black Sea. Excellent adaptability to changing living conditions allowed the czars to get a fairly wide distribution across the waters of Europe.

Sunny perch continues to settle. This is facilitated by the fact that the fish reaches puberty by the year. Males actively guard the masonry in more than three eggs.

Sunny perch, of course, impresses with its beauty: blue spots with a neon tint adorn the whole body of fish. He has golden-yellow fins, and on the gill cover strikes a black with a scarlet edging dot.

Habitat

At present, this fish of the percidae family is found even on the middle reaches of the Dnieper. Almost all rivers and even reservoirs in Ukraine are rich in it. It easily tolerates noticeable increases and falls in water temperature, it can easily overwinter in a pond covered with ice.

The American sun perch is caught in Ukraine all year round. But it bites especially well in sunny weather. Apparently, thanks to this and got its original name.

Inhabited in rivers or lakes, the sun perch always keeps close to the shore. Accordingly, it is easier to find it there than in the middle of the river. Preferring small depths - maximum up to two meters, the sun perch moves in small flocks, keeping the direction or along the cut of grass, or along the coastal edge. The fish, as it were, patrols its territory.

In such a place, the sun perch is caught easily and quickly. And some flocks, in general occupying a certain area, do not leave it for a long time. Most often this place is under a bush or overhanging trees, as well as clearing in algae or reeds.

Fishing

The sun perch, whose photo shows its similarity with the American piranhas, is a predator. He has a small mouth, so he eats only small crustaceans, insects, worms, caviar. But despite its small mouth, this fish, greedy for food, swallows even the fry of other inhabitants of the reservoir.

Proceeding from this, experienced fishermen use large hooks of a fairly large number - the tenth - when catching czars. The best delicacy for this fish is gum, although when fishing with fly-fly dry flies, it swallows the hook almost completely.

I must say that some people consider the sun perch a "weedy" fish, which, rapidly multiplying, begins to exterminate the eggs of more valuable commercial species, thereby causing harm.

Tackle

They say that the sun perch has been so bred that it can be caught everywhere, even by spinning. At the same time, he bites frequently and greedily. Today he is caught very little, because he is not a trophy because of his small size.

If the prince does not react to the spinner, you should try to mount a snap that is a small jig. Crocheted crochet or earthworm - an attractive treat for this inhabitant of reservoirs. Such equipment helps to catch even a very passive perch, regardless of where fishing is conducted - on open water or on ice.

Features of fishing

Many believe that the most suitable season for catching sun perch is the period of its spawning. After all, in this case the fish is perfectly visible in shallow water. But if the moment is missed, and the king goes deeper, then to determine the location of his location becomes much more difficult. In this case, a good way to help the lure.

Those who purposefully go fishing for the czars, before the start of the fishing pass along the shore and throw a little feeding moth in the water. Feeding collects just a huge amount of potential prey, and bites begin to follow after casting. Catching on silicone bait is not recommended, since the mouth of a solar perch is very small, and it is difficult for fish to swallow even inch twisters.

Fishing in winter

With sharp bites in winter, the fisherman has to very often hook the next bait. Therefore, for more intensive fishing from ice at such "hot" points, a bait is better suited, which will attract the sun perch with its odor, as well as taste and play. Another prerequisite is that the bait stay on the hook well.

In the middle of winter, sun perch sometimes takes it so carefully that the angler often does not notice the bite. In some cases, the fish, taking a bait, rises with it upward. Therefore, experienced "hunters" should distinguish even the weakest bites to make a reliable cut.

To catch a perch is better in a darkened tent or "vpoglyadku", obscuring something with a hole. This makes it possible to clearly see what happens under the ice layer. And if the water is also transparent, you can even see how the fish swallows the bait.

If the bait is at a considerable depth or the reservoir is already cloudy, then, most likely, it will not be possible to observe a similar pattern. However, if you take a bait with a very bright color, then notice when it disappears, it is possible.

When catching a sun perch from the ice behind the float is difficult to keep track, so many anglers install a lantern. If you raise the light source high, then the hole will be better visible, regardless of the power, whether it's a small candle or a very large lantern. And the game of light and glitter of tackle will attract such a fish as the sun perch.

Is it possible to eat tsar'kov

This is asked by those for whom they are exotic. The answer is one: of course. This fish is perfect for baking in foil on a fire right on the shore of the reservoir. In general, sun perch has a very pleasant and delicate taste. He has a moderately dense white meat. Fish at home is suitable for all types of cooking, but it will be especially juicy if fried in oil.