Record-Breaking Perch Catches Surprise Finnish Anglers
Two young Finnish anglers have recently made headlines after landing unusually large perch in separate lakes, with one catch also displaying a rare golden coloration.
A Giant Perch in Sipoo
In Sipoo, friends Iivari and Kasper were fishing at Lake Taasjärvi when they hooked a perch of extraordinary size. Ilta-Sanomat reports that the fish measured 47 centimeters in length and weighed just over a kilogram, making it a personal record for Iivari.
The anglers initially mistook the perch for a pike due to its size and fierce resistance. "We were really surprised. My friend tried to net it, and eventually, the fish fit inside," Kasper recalled. The perch was later compared to a one-kilogram pike, with both fish nearly identical in size.
According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), perch in small forest ponds typically reach only 15–16 centimeters and weigh 30–50 grams. In optimal conditions, a perch can grow over 40 centimeters and weigh a kilogram in about a decade. The catch was later prepared as food but remained a memorable achievement for the friends.
A Golden Perch in Äänekoski
Meanwhile, in Äänekoski, 18-year-old Iivari—an experienced angler—caught a golden-colored perch in Lake Kuhnamo. MTV Uutiset reports that this was the third time he had landed a perch with such unusual pigmentation.
The fish, which took a domestic Bete Lotto spinner, weighed around 800 grams. Iivari described his initial reaction: "When I got my first golden perch, I was really surprised. It was only when I held it in my hands that I realized it was a perch that had somehow just mutated."
He speculated that the golden coloration was likely due to a rare genetic mutation, a theory he had researched online. The lake is known for its large fish, with Iivari previously catching a two-kilogram perch and regularly landing pike weighing 7–8 kilograms.
Both catches highlight the unexpected surprises that can await even seasoned anglers in Finland’s lakes.