is it a white bass or a white perch?
WHITE BASS (Morone chrysops)
The body is deepest below the dorsal fin and the depth remains fairly uniform below the entire spin dorsal fin.
From 6 to 10 dark lines run horizontally down the back and sides.
When the spiny dorsal fin is pulled erect, the soft dorsal fin remains relaxed.
Each of 3 bony anal fin spines are of different lengths and are arranged in ascending order.
The anal fin usually has I I or 12 soft rays behind the 3 bony spines.
WHITE PERCH (Morone americana)
The body is deepest just ahead of, or at the beginning of, the dorsal fin.
There are no lines or stripes on the back or sides.
When the spiny dorsal fin is pulled erect, the soft dorsal fin also becomes erect.
The second and third bony anal spines are almost exactly the same length.
The anal fin usually has 8 or 9 soft rays behind the 3 bony spines.
Compliments of Seagrant.
Rg