Sacramento Perch Return to Namesake City for Unique Urban Fishing Opportunity
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has reintroduced Sacramento perch, California’s only native sunfish, to the state capital. In December, 3,000 perch were stocked into a pond at Granite Regional Park in Sacramento, creating a new and unique urban fishing opportunity.
Granite Regional Park already hosts CDFW’s Fishing in the City Program, which stocks rainbow trout in winter and channel catfish in summer. The addition of Sacramento perch could establish a year-round fishery at the park’s small, former quarry pond, surrounded by soccer fields and office buildings.
Sacramento perch, once abundant in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Clear Lake, have been displaced due to habitat changes and competition from non-native sunfish introduced in the 20th century. Now classified as a “Species of Special Concern,” these fish are limited to about two dozen isolated waters across Northern California and the Eastern Sierra.
The stocked perch include mostly juveniles, but about 150 were over a year old and at least six inches long, providing an immediate fishing opportunity. Before stocking, CDFW surveyed the pond and found minimal competition from non-native sunfish.
The effort is part of a broader initiative to expand the range of Sacramento perch and introduce them to more anglers statewide. Other efforts include reestablishing populations in the Sacramento Valley and creating the first Southern California population at Lindo Lake in San Diego County.
Sacramento perch are prized for their ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions, making them ideal for urban park ponds and underserved communities. If successful, the Granite Regional Park effort could help increase awareness and appreciation for this heritage species while providing an exciting new fishing option for local anglers.
