Freshwater

Mandarin fish (Chinese perch)

Pez mandarín (perca china)

Siniperca chuatsi

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

3–30 ft.

Best time

Dawn and dusk, and at night.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A deep, chunky perch-like fish with a big mouth, a protruding lower jaw, sharp dorsal spines and a yellow-olive body marbled with dark blotches and a dark stripe through the eye. Called gui yu in China.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and over 15 lb (8 kg).
Diet: Live fish only — it ignores dead food.
Behavior: An ambush predator of rocky and weedy lake beds; it eats only live prey.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from China, Hong Kong & Taiwan and Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan. Rivers and lakes of China (the Yangtze basin, Qiandao Lake and others) and the Amur basin.
Habitat: Rivers and lakes of China (the Yangtze basin, Qiandao Lake and others) and the Amur basin.
Depth: 3–30 ft.
Fishing depth: 5–20 ft.
Best season: Spring to autumn.
Best time: Dawn and dusk, and at night.
Best tides: No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Small live fish.
Best artificial lures: Small soft plastics on jig heads, small crankbaits and spinnerbaits worked near the bottom.
Tackle setup: 6½–7 ft light-medium spinning or baitcasting rod.
Hook size: Size 1–2/0 hooks.
Line: 8–15 lb braid.
Leader: 10–15 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Lures Plastics Hooks Box

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rivers and lakes of China (the Yangtze basin, Qiandao Lake and others) and the Amur basin.
Rig up: 6½–7 ft light-medium spinning or baitcasting rod. 10–15 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Small live fish. Lures: Small soft plastics on jig heads, small crankbaits and spinnerbaits worked near the bottom.
Fish it: Work soft plastics slowly along rocky points and drop-offs, as for bass.
Time it: Dawn and dusk, and at night. No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Fishing techniques: Work soft plastics slowly along rocky points and drop-offs, as for bass.
BigJoe's tip: Mandarin fish hunt like bass — slow, bottom-hugging plastics work best.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent and famous: "squirrel fish" (sweet-and-sour, scored and fried) and steamed whole.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Very sharp, painful dorsal spines — handle carefully with a towel.
Regulations: China sets seasonal bans and protected areas; the Yangtze has strict rules. Check local rules. Rules differ by country: many lakes, reservoirs and fishing parks sell day permits, national parks and marine sanctuaries restrict or ban fishing, and some species are protected. Fish with licensed operators and check local rules.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits