Shiner perch
The shiner perch is a common surfperch found in estuaries, lagoons, and coastal streams along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California. It is the sole member of its genus. The shiner perch is also known as seven-eleven and shiner seaperch.
Distribution
Shiner perch range from Punta Baja, Northern Baja California, to Saint John Baptist Bay near Sitka in Southeastern Alaska.Habitat
It is one of the most common fish in the bays and estuaries of its range, favoring beds of eelgrass, and often accumulating around piers as well. While typically residing in shallow waters, it has been observed at depths up to. It can also live in brackish waters.Description
Shiner perch is similar to tule perch; it is deep-bodied with a dusky greenish back and silvery sides that have a pattern combining fine horizontal bars with three broad yellow vertical bars. Breeding males turn almost entirely black, the barred pattern being obscured by dark speckles. Shiner perch is distinguished from tule perch by having fewer dorsal fin spines, just 8–9 vs the 15–19 of the tule perch. The rayed part of the dorsal fin has 18 to 23 rays. The anal fin has 3 spines followed by 22–25 rays.Shiner perch can reach a maximum length of, but are most commonly under in total length. Shiner perch mature soon after birth, but females often wait until one year of age before spawning. Breeding males can turn almost completely black.