what kind of fish is this?

[outdoorsman]

Those drawings aren't do not necessarily depict every fish in a given species (especially coloration), and those stripes can also be present on white perch when seen under certain lighting.

They are tough to distinguish at that size (closely related, same genus), and probably the only way to tell for sure without multiple, high quality photos, would be to key it out using a fish ID book.

[rgfixit]

While these are only drawings.....from the USFWS....they are accurate depictions of both species. Note the area directly behind the head and above the gill plate. With this picture It is a dead give-a-way.

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.
RG

[mobey3]

white bass... just my 2 pennies worth!

[piker1]

White bass......

[pooley]

white bass.

[nitro591]

agree with it - White Bass

[oak]

Half Breed

[rgfixit]

I think we need a full NCIS investigation here. Complete with brain dead actors from the TV shows. Or maybe we can submit it to the FBI for analysis. Or maybe the TV fishing show guys can do an episode on this...Hank Parker or Jimmy Huston or maybe Dave Genz can tell the difference.
RG

[RLWagner]

Small White Bass

[FISHAHOLIC-19]

A nasty tasting white bass

[RLWagner]

A nasty tasting white bass

If you can learn to lift the filet knife 1/8" off the skin when removing the meat from the skin, then cut out the blood vein you will then have a filet that taste like a crappie. But you must keep them iced between catching and cleaning.

[FISHAHOLIC-19]

I have done that. Tried bleeding them also and tried cutting out all the red meat. I just don't like them. They are a blast to catch on ultra lite gear though.

[Hookinup]

I agree. I cannot make a white bass taste good. White perch are "bearable" if you get rid of the red meat. I'll give them to anyone who wants them, but with a freezer full of yellow perch and walleye, why mess with them?

[rgfixit]

Around here we call the White Bass a Silver Bass. I used to target them in the spring on I-Bay. They get big, hit very aggressively, and fight like heck.  2 -3 lbs is not uncommon.

Before they shut down the fishing at the Ginna outflow, we used to have a ball catching them on white jigs in the current.

Fun to catch, but, nasty tasting for sure. 

RG

[piker1]

will get Barnaby Jones or Columbo on this lol.......