Bersh fish - differences from pike perch, photo and description, fishing features

Lifestyle

This species has a number of rules by which it exists in the underwater kingdom of the fish world.
These include the following:

Swims exclusively in a school
and belongs to the predatory family.
Selects clean sources for habitat
with fairly calm water flow.
Prefers to be in places with pebbly or sandy surfaces.
Less often chooses a rocky bottom.
Swims to a depth of more than 10 meters.
Selects dumps from 15 meters.
Very young individuals usually live near the shore,
but are still found at a certain depth near the bottom.
Occasionally they can choose places for their habitat next to pike perch
and swim in the same school with them.
Very large fish often live at very great depths
in the fairway area.
There are both semi-anadromous and freshwater varieties.

Calorie content of pike perch

Pike perch is a low calorie dietary product. It is recommended for use by people who want to lose weight or are undergoing rehabilitation, as well as athletes, pregnant women and even infants who are switching to regular food. Pike perch meat contains a lot of protein and a lot of useful substances that help strengthen the human body. There are 20 amino acids in total. Nutrients: protein (18g), fat (1g), cholesterol (59g), omega-3 (0.09g), omega-6 (0.04g), carbohydrates (0g), water (79g). Vitamins contained: A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B3, C, E.

The calorie content of pike perch is 84 kcal. But with heat treatment it increases. The highest value is for dried fish - 180 kcal, fried pike perch - 130 kcal, boiled - 97 kcal.

The building material of all tissues of the human body is protein. Pike perch contains a large number of protein molecules and amino acids that enhance immunity. A significant cobalt content (20 µg) in the composition of the predator, when consumed as food, will be useful for people with metabolic disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the thyroid gland and anemia. The presence of fluoride (29mcg), phosphorus (230mg) and calcium (35mg) strengthens bones, teeth, blood vessel walls, preventing heart disease.

Spawning

Adult Bersh individuals reach a length of 20 cm. Moreover, in order to produce offspring, they must spawn in a certain period of spring.
This period begins from April to May, when the water reaches the optimal temperature of 10 degrees plus. When talking about Bersh fish, many mention that the fertility of females may differ for different regions. So, if we take the average statistical indicators, one individual is capable of giving life to about 250 thousand eggs. But it is worth remembering that when fish are in reservoirs, this figure can almost double. Despite the fact that during the spawning period, the fish comes to the surface and will spawn near the banks of rivers and lakes, where there is a sandy bottom and areas of tree roots. There the female lays eggs and leaves them for protection by the males. The latter, in turn, carefully protect future offspring from aquatic predators.

It is also worth noting that the color of the eggs will be light yellow and almost transparent, which allows for optimal shelter in the depths of the water expanse. This even gives the fish the opportunity to develop more urgently and begin growth already at the initial stage of the formation of a new generation. The development of eggs continues for 5 days and allows them to feed from accumulated bile. Also, in the future, a significant change in nutrition occurs; it becomes more complete due to aquatic plants and adjacent plankton. The fish reaches maturity within 4-5 years, males gain weight and develop faster, so you should worry about the development of a population with a minimum number of females. In the absence of greater depth and sandy bottom. Individuals can spawn in areas of reeds, choosing quieter and stagnant backwaters. This makes it possible to eliminate the threat of predators swimming into the selected spawning areas.

Bersh

Description of the bersh:

Bersch is a member of the perch fish family. Bersh is, so to speak, the “little brother” of pike perch. Bersh and pike perch look almost the same. Characteristic differences are the much smaller size of the bersh compared to the pike perch, as well as the absence of fangs in the bersh, which are clearly pronounced in the pike perch. On Akhtuba, the bersh has a length of up to 45 centimeters and a weight of up to 1.5 kilograms.

Bersha habitats:

Bersh is found in the rivers of the Caspian, Azov and Black Seas, and Bersh also enters the Caspian Sea. Bershis keep in schools, like ordinary pike perch. They accompany schools of pike perch and pick up small fish behind them, taking advantage of the confusion caused by larger predators. Bersh almost always stays at depth, in the fairway itself, and loves a sandy bottom.

Catching bersh:

Fishing for bersh in the Akhtuba River can be quite successful at almost any time of the year, but November is a particularly good time for this entertaining process. At this time, you can catch a trophy specimen of bersh. Fishing for bersh on Akhtuba in winter from the ice is especially exciting. If you find a winter resting place for bersha, then from one hole you can pull out several dozen specimens of this fish. The best bite time for bersh is early morning or late evening.

Bersch feeds mainly on fry and small fish such as bleak. You can catch bersh using a spinning rod using trolling and jigging. For this, it is better to use a small bait, since the bersh has a rather narrow throat and is not able to swallow a large fry. Sometimes a medium-sized bersh bites on a worm placed as bait on bottom or float tackle. But if you purposefully want to catch a bersh, then it is better to attach a fry as a bait on a float or bottom tackle. Bersh live in packs and prefer to stay in one place for a long time, therefore, having caught at least one Bersh, you should not rush to change the place of fishing, since soon you will probably come across other specimens of this predator.

Taste qualities of bersh:

Bersha meat is very similar to pike perch meat, it is a little fattier and more tender. Some fishermen, who appreciate the gastronomic value of this fish, come to Akhtuba in the fall and winter specifically to catch bersh. Bersh is tasty with almost any method of preparing fish: smoking, salting, frying, etc. A special delicacy can be considered lightly salted bersha, prepared according to the type of Korean dish “he”.

Delicious recipes from bersh

From such a predator as bersh, it is possible to prepare various delicious dishes. At the same time, the dishes are not only tasty, but also healthy.

To prepare this very tasty dish you need to prepare:

Half a kilo of fish.
Three onions.
150 grams of hard cheese.
70 grams of mayonnaise.
Greenery.
Salt.
Spices.

Cooking technique:

First of all, the fish is cleaned, gutted and washed thoroughly. If you remove all the bones, you will get a more desirable dish. After this, the fish is cut into portions, salted and peppered.
The onion is cut into half rings and mixed with mayonnaise.
The oven turns on and heats up to the desired temperature. The fish is coated with mayonnaise and onions and placed in a baking dish. In this state, the fish should cook for about 35 minutes.
After this time, the fish is removed from the oven and the dish is sprinkled with grated hard cheese on top. After this, the fish goes into the oven for another 5 minutes. Before serving, the dish is decorated with chopped herbs.

The following components will be required:

4 medium sized fish carcasses.
Dill.
6 cloves of garlic.
Parsley.
Basil.
Green onions.
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
Vegetable oil.
Salt.
Pepper.

How to cook:

The fish is cleaned, gutted and washed thoroughly. At the same time, you must remember to cut off the heads, fins and tail.
All greens are chopped, placed in a separate container, with the addition of garlic juice and vegetable oil. After this, all this is salted to taste.
Fish carcasses are stuffed with prepared herbs. At the same time, this mixture should be thoroughly coated with the inside of the belly of the fish. The top of the fish is coated with mayonnaise.
The fish is placed on a baking dish and sent to the oven for about 40 minutes until the fish is covered with a golden crust.

Stewed beurche with onions and carrots

To prepare this simple dish, you need to have:

About 2 kg of fish.
Three onions.
One carrot.
Flour.
Salt.
Spices.
Vegetable oil.

Cooking method:

The fish is cleaned and washed thoroughly, after which it is cut into portions. After this, the fish is salted and the necessary spices are added.
The fish is dredged in flour and then fried in a frying pan until golden brown.
The onion is cut into half rings, and the carrots are chopped on a coarse grater.
After the fish is cooked, onions and carrots are fried in the same frying pan.
As soon as the onion is cooked, put the fish on top, reduce the heat and simmer the fish under the lid for about 7 minutes.
Before serving, the fish is decorated with herbs.

Bersh is considered a fairly tasty and healthy fish. In appearance, it resembles something between a pike perch and a perch. Catching it is not so easy, since large individuals prefer to be at depth and away from the shore. Therefore, if you catch bersha, it is better from a boat, armed with deep-sea gear.

Bersh fish is a predator that comes from the perch family. It belongs to the "dwarf" relatives. The fish increases in size at a slow pace. A sexually mature individual reaches about 45 cm in length and can weigh up to 1.5 kg. These are medium sizes. Rarely, there are species with a weight of 3-4 kg and a length of 50-60 cm. But, as a rule, it can be considered great luck if a Bersh of 500 grams or more is included in the catch.

The fish bears a striking resemblance to its relative, the pike perch. Often, experienced fishermen are not able to distinguish them, let alone amateurs. However, they have quite obvious differences.

Differences between Bersh and pike perch:

scales on the gills, with a length of more than 10 cm;
there are no fangs on the jaws;
there is no hump in the back;
the head is wider, but at the same time short:
eyes have a larger diameter;
teeth do not differ in length;
color pale yellow;
there are stripes on the sides;
the body is long;
large fins, two have bony partitions;
the scales are arranged in 70 rows, they are much larger in diameter;
does not live in the sea.

Bersh fish: description

This fish belongs to the perch family. Bersh grows up to 0.5 meters in length and weighs up to 1.7 kg. Bersh, like perch, is considered a freshwater fish.

Description of appearance

Bersch has the same color as pike perch, only its stripes are more expressive and symmetrical. It is distinguished by a blunt muzzle and the absence of fangs on the lower jaw. The eyes are more convex than those of pike perch, and the fins, both dorsal and lateral, are large. The long body has an elongated shape. It is covered with large scales, and even at the mouth you can find smaller scales.

Where does bersh live?

Basically, bersh fish is found in rivers such as:

The Volga River and the Volga River Basin.
River Don.
Donets River.
Dnepr River.

In addition, this fish can actually be found in the Caspian Sea, as well as in its basin.

What does bersh eat?

Bersh feeds on small fish, not exceeding 7 cm in length, like pike perch. The most preferred fish is the gudgeon, although its diet includes fry of other fish species.

Prefers deep places where the bottom is hard and sandy. Not found in lakes, even flood lakes.

When does the bersh spawn?

Bersh is ready for breeding upon reaching 4 years of age. By this time, it grows up to 25 cm in length. The bersh spawns in shallow water areas. At the same time, he builds a special nest on the sandy bottom, within some snag. The male guards the nest where the eggs are laid until the fry emerge.

As a rule, it spawns in April or May, when the water warms up to +10 degrees. The caviar is quite small in size and yellow in color. Bersch is a fairly prolific fish, since the female can lay up to half a million eggs at a time, depending on the habitat.

The caviar ripens within one week. As a result, larvae appear, which remain in the cocoon for several days and feed on the remains of the shell. Their length (larvae) is several millimeters. After 5 days, the larvae turn into fish fry, which feed on zooplankton, and after growing up they switch to feeding on the fry of other fish.

Bersh behavior: features

Bersh, unlike the same pike perch, hunts for its prey throughout the day. Pike perch, by the way, go hunting at night. Bersch, like perch, hunts in schools, preferring to drive prey to a specific place.

Younger individuals stay close to large pike perch. Therefore, it is very difficult to distinguish bersh next to pike perch. Large specimens of bersha prefer to stay closer to the middle of the river, while smaller ones prefer to stay closer to the shore. At the same time, they are located at the very bottom.

Difference between bersh fish and pike perch

Despite the fact that some features of its behavior are almost similar to the behavior of pike perch, there are some differences. For example:

Bersch does not grow to the same size as pike perch.
You can see scales on the gills of the bersh, but the pike perch does not have them.
Bersh is distinguished by large eyes, a shorter, but also wider muzzle.
Bersh has larger scales.
The stripes on the body of the bersh have a more regular geometry.
Pike perch is found in lakes and reservoirs, while bersh prefers exclusively rivers, both large and small.

Volga bersh and common pike perch: differences and methods of fishing

Bersh and pike perch, the differences between which can be noticed by an experienced fisherman, are considered related breeds. They can even live in the same body of water. Sometimes they express the opinion that bersh is a mixture of pike perch and perch, but ichthyologists simply classify the fish as different species of the same genus.

What kind of fish is bersh?

The scientific classification calls the bersha the Volga pike perch, noting the characteristics of its distribution, biological characteristics and habits. You can catch bersha in the lower reaches of the Volga; part of the population lives in the Caspian Sea, near the mouth of the river. The fish is also common in a number of rivers of the Black Sea basin, but is not found anywhere else in Russia.

The similarity between bersh and pike perch lies in their lifestyle and preferences in choosing habitats. The caught fish that fishermen sell are similar in appearance and, from a consumer point of view, have no differences. It is believed that the meat of bersha is more tender and juicier than that of pike perch.

Food and spawning time

It begins to spawn later than ordinary pike perch. In the middle reaches of the Volga, the beginning of spawning coincides with the breeding season of bream, approximately at the beginning of April. In warmer regions, in the Volga delta, in the Black Sea basin, bersh go to spawn from mid-March.

Part of the population spawns as semi-anadromous fish, rising into rivers from marine areas. For spawning, bershis choose protected places without strong currents. For spawning, the female prefers a sandy or pebble bottom. The eggs are numerous and small. Parental instinct is undeveloped.

The larvae hatch after 5-6 days, remaining motionless for the first time. After 2-3 days, they begin to swim, feeding on small aquatic inhabitants, and then switch to a diet of invertebrates. Reaching a size of 10 cm, the young gradually switch to a predatory lifestyle, hunting fry of other breeds.

Adults behave like completely predatory fish. Small concentrations of bershas drive schools of fish into places convenient for hunting. Solitary representatives more often use the ambush method of fishing, hiding under snags while waiting for prey.

The peculiarities of the Volga and common pike perch lie in the choice of prey: predators have a narrow and not very plastic pharynx. This structure of the oral apparatus allows them to eat only small fish (minnows, roaches, fry of other species).

How to distinguish bersh from pike perch?

Despite their close relationship, pike perch and bershi have characteristics and differences that gave ichthyologists the reason to divide them into different species, and allowed fishermen to consider them a hybrid with perch.

In the Black Sea basin, bersh was given the name podsul. The name means the same as bream or roach: a medium-sized or young fish of the corresponding species.

In these same places, common pike perch is called sula.

External signs

You can determine the difference between bersh and pike perch by carefully examining the fish:

The bersh (Volga pike perch) has a short head, with a rounded snout and a slightly convex frontal part, with large eyes and a well-developed sharp spine at the top of the posterior edge of the gill cover. The most striking difference is the many small scales covering the gill covers and cheeks. The body of the Volga pike perch is gray in color, darker on the back and lighter on the sides, with a golden tint. The Bersha's scales are larger than those of its related breed. Clear vertical black stripes are visible on the body. The belly is white and silvery.
The common pike perch has a pointed, elongated snout and a low forehead. The eyes are small, and the gill cover has a protrusion at the bottom, next to the pectoral fin. There is no pronounced spine on the ledge. The gill covers and cheeks are smooth, devoid of scales and cast in pink and blue shades. The scales are small and dense. The color is distinguished by yellowish shades: the back is brownish-gray, the sides are lighter, sandy or grayish-yellow, with a beautiful golden tint. The belly is white near the head, but turns yellow toward the middle of the body. The stripes are sparse, blurry, slightly darker than the general tone of the body.

You can distinguish pike perch from bersh by their teeth. Bersh has smaller teeth of equal length. The common pike perch has fangs - long teeth on the lower jaw.

The main difference is the size of the fish. The maximum body length of bersha rarely exceeds 45 cm, and large individuals of pike perch can reach 1 m.

The fin on the back is also different: in the Volga pike perch it is slightly higher and has a rounded edge.

Habitat

Bersh is found in the Volga (up to its middle reaches) and its tributaries. Young animals never enter the salty waters of the Caspian Sea, although adults often live in coastal areas with high salinity and rise into the river only to spawn. The Black Sea population, widespread in the Don and Donets, Dnieper and their tributaries, behaves in a similar way.

River fish bersh, unlike pike perch, never appears in stagnant bodies of water. It should not be found in lakes or reservoirs. The habitat of bershas is rivers with clean water, without excess suspension, and the sea coast. In these waters, it often forms common schools with ordinary pike perch.

Where to catch bersh

We marked on the map the places where fishermen have already caught bersha.

Fishing features: tackle and bait

There is no commercial fishing for bersha. But for amateur fishing and sport fishing, it is suitable as a trophy, like any large and tasty fish. Volga pike perch catches best in winter; it is rarely caught in summer. Different gear is used for fishing:

For slow-flowing rivers, a simple float rod is suitable. When using it in spring and autumn, it is better to fish from a boat, since the Volga zander lives closer to the middle of the current, and only young fish live near the coastline. The bottom lifestyle of the fishing target should also be taken into account, setting the depth of the bait so that it is no higher than 30-40 cm from the ground.
A spinning rod with a nod and light-colored spinners is also suitable for fishing. The bait is brought low above the ground, evenly and not too quickly.
Feeder, or bottom tackle, is the most convenient. Bersh hunts at any time of the day, except for midday hours, so night fishing for donka is most popular. They use natural and artificial baits, as well as a sliding sinker.
In summer, bersha can be caught using a zherlitsa (circle). Before fishing, you need to find a school of pike perch and cast a tackle with live bait. To catch larger specimens, tackle is placed closer to the fairway.

The best bait is considered to be an earthworm, an elongated jig with live bait. Sprat or gudgeon are used as live bait.

Volga bersh and common pike perch: differences and methods of fishing Link to main publication

Source: https://ribaku.info/sudak/volzhskij-bersh-i-sudak

Fishing for bersha

Fishermen prefer to catch more bersha because it has more tender and juicy meat. But catching a bersh is not so easy. But if you try very hard and study his habits, then you can also cope with this task.

Fishing methods

There are more than enough ways to catch this fish, especially in our time. At the same time, there are those that are extremely popular among fishermen, and there are those that are not very popular. In any case, they can bring positive results.

The process of catching bersh is accompanied by a lot of positive emotions. At the same time, it is enough to arm yourself with the simplest and most affordable gear. Despite this, you need to know some information about him. For example:

This fish is caught exclusively by amateur fishermen. Bersha is not caught on an industrial scale.
Catching bersh in the summer is not at all realistic, but with the arrival of winter you can count on success.
For fishing, choose a fishing line of medium thickness, since the bersh does not grow more than 0.5 meters in length.
Basically, large, elongated jigs are used to catch it in winter.
Some kind of fish, such as redfish, gudgeon or sprat, is attached to the jig.

Fishing gear

Bersh can be caught using any gear, such as:

Spinning. Since this fish prefers a sandy bottom, a spinning rod is excellent for catching this predator. A light-colored spoon is used as bait. A leash, in this case, is not needed. The bait should be placed at the very bottom, and quite slowly. It is better if fishing is done from a boat

It is equally important to determine the bottom topography in order to find a fish site.

Bottom fishing rod (feeder). As a rule, gear is installed in the evening and checked in the morning

This method of fishing has a number of advantages. Firstly, you don’t need to constantly cast and pull out the tackle, and secondly, you can use artificial bait. Bottom tackle is used with a sliding sinker.

Float rod. It is quite difficult to fish with this fishing rod, especially in the current, especially since bersh leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. Therefore, you need to choose areas with moderate currents. In addition, float tackle is difficult to cast far.

Fishing with mugs. The circle is the same girder, only for fishing in the summer. First, you should determine the concentration of fish and only then cast the tackle. When fishing with mugs, live bait is usually used. Large specimens are located somewhere on the river fairway, where you need to throw gear and here you can’t do without a boat.

Reproduction

When the fish reaches 20 centimeters in size, around the fifth year of life, puberty occurs. The best place for spawning is not a deep sandy bottom, about two meters. These conditions are suitable for fish to create a cozy place where they feel safe. After the female lays eggs, she swims away from the “nest”, and the male, in turn, remains to watch and protect the eggs from other fish. Most often, spawning occurs at the end of April or beginning of May. Provided that by this time the water has warmed up to at least 8 - 11 degrees Celsius. The incubation period is about five days. A week after the appearance of the larvae, the fry reach five centimeters. The fry feed independently on algae and plankton.

Photo 1. Bersha has brighter stripes on its side.

Fishing for bersha

Fishing methods

This fish is caught exclusively by amateur fishermen. Bersha is not caught on an industrial scale.
Catching bersh in the summer is not at all realistic, but with the arrival of winter you can count on success.
For fishing, choose a fishing line of medium thickness, since the bersh does not grow more than 0.5 meters in length.
Basically, large, elongated jigs are used to catch it in winter.
Some kind of fish, such as redfish, gudgeon or sprat, is attached to the jig.

Fishing gear

Bersh can be caught using any gear, such as:

It is equally important to determine the bottom topography in order to find a fish site.

Bottom fishing rod (feeder). As a rule, gear is installed in the evening and checked in the morning

Methods of catching bersh

Fishermen do not specifically catch this fish, but for fishing enthusiasts it is a desirable catch.

In summer, this predator is almost never caught; it is hunted in winter, autumn or early spring.
They are caught in the current from ice or from a boat.
The diameter of the fishing line should be no more than 0.2 mm. A thin line will get tangled, and a thick line will float in the current.
It is better to use large elongated jigs for fishing.
Sprat or verkhovka is used as a bait.

Tackle for catching bersh

Float rod.

This tackle catches bersh, whose weight is up to 2 kg. The predator is a fairly lively fish, so the fishing rod must be strong. Otherwise, he can easily damage it. Fishing lines should be used so that the fish can be pulled out without a hook or landing net.

Spinning.

This bersha fishing device should be used to fish in places where you can move the lure without snagging.

The spoon should be light, oscillating and well weighted.
The predator does not bite the fishing line, so there is no need to use a metal leash.
Due to the fact that fish often set up ambushes, it is best to make a stepwise retrieve or not move the lure very quickly at the very bottom.
Bersh grabs the bait slowly, so pauses should be made at the extreme points of the retrieve.

The boat from which a predator will be caught using a spinning rod must be stable. A rubber bedpan will be difficult to hold and not very comfortable to stand on.

"Donka."

This gear is the most common among fishing enthusiasts. Fishing is almost always successful if you leave the “donk” overnight and check its contents in the morning.

“Donka” with a sliding sinker can also be fished from a boat. The main thing is that the line passes through the sinker freely. Another condition when using this gear is that the fish, when swallowing live bait, should not feel its resistance ahead of time.

Mugs.

With their help, bershas are caught in the same way as pike.

Mugs should be sent to known places where predators gather.
Sometimes gear passing a few meters from the fish may not be noticed by it.
If fish have accumulated on the slope of an underwater channel, then the circles should swim along it. In this case, the likelihood of a bite increases.

The fish bite especially briskly in the morning, until twelve o'clock in the afternoon, then there is a break in the bite for two or three hours. But at this time a small pike perch is vigorously biting.

Despite the fact that bersh is a small fish, it can be caught with any gear, and the gastronomic qualities of this predator are better than those of pike perch.

Berche fish

Fishing Features

You can use different fishing gear:

spinning rods;
donks;
girders;
float rods.

Wobblers and jig heads are effective. Sometimes shiny drop-shaped jigs are used. Most often they use spinning fishing from a boat or shore.

If the choice fell on a float rod, then make sure that the tackle is strong. Keep your bait near the bottom.

Bersh are actively caught using lures, using narrow double-sided light-colored ones. Spoons are moved in two ways. The first is that the spoon is alternately raised and then lowered to the bottom. The second method is attractive because the raised spoon is lowered into the water all the way, and then pulled along the bottom. If there is no spoon, then a jig head will do instead.

In weak currents, use a large jig with a large hook. To do this, take a fishing line with a diameter of 0.2 mm and a light weight. Bersh is frightened by sharp jerks, so perform smooth movements with small twitches of the tackle.

Since this fish lives in schools, it is good to use an echo sounder to detect its concentrations.

It is more difficult to catch fish in winter because they are not looking for food. Then you should fish in deep places and under snags. Sometimes a pike rig helps. Installation occurs as follows: the sinker is lowered to the bottom, which helps the baitfish stay quite deep, thereby attracting prey.

Fish winter in deep places. To find its parking place, you need to actively move and drill many holes. However, you can choose a specific place and wait there. Any of these tactics has a right to exist.

In nature, adults prefer to feed on young fish and crustaceans. Juveniles love plankton and insect larvae. The size of the bait or part of it should be 2-5 cm. Due to the anatomical structure of the mouth, the predator cannot feed on large fish. Only the largest individuals can swallow fish 8-10 cm. You can use a frog. But it is not necessary to take live bait for fishing.

Fishermen use worms and bloodworms in winter. The bloodworm is planted in a bunch. Pieces of lard and various larvae are also suitable.

Usually on the Volga bersha is caught in autumn, winter or early spring. It bites most actively from dawn to 12 noon. During the day, the bite stops, and with the onset of dusk, the activity of the fish increases. In the winter season, you should not fish at night. It is better to start winter fishing when there is strong ice.

Unlike pike perch, bersh's teeth are small and there are no sharp fangs.

Bersh or Volga pike perch

It is believed that bersh is a purely Russian fish. This is due to the fact that it is found only in Russia and the CIS, in the rivers of the Caspian and Black Seas. There is no other reliable evidence.

There is very little information about this predator. They are mainly drawn from the stories of fishermen who encounter bersha in one place or another. Due to its similarity with pike perch, it is often mistaken for juveniles of this fish, although there are quite a few differences.

Distinctive features

Despite its external resemblance to pike perch, this fish is closer to perch. At one time it was even believed that it was a cross between two fish. How does bersh differ from pike perch:

shorter and wider snout;
large eye size;
teeth of the same size, without fangs;
scaly cheeks;
larger scales and smaller rows of them;
fewer transverse stripes - 8 of them;
more regular and clear stripes.

All these differences are clearly visible.

This fish is not found in large quantities anywhere. Most often it is caught in the Volga, but only in some places. This is mainly the section of the river below Rybinsk - the bersh does not rise higher upstream.

There is information that it is caught in Belozerye, in the Ural and Sheksna rivers, in the Caspian and Baltic bays. They are quite confusing and contradictory. Nobody knows the exact habitats. This fish has generally been little studied, perhaps due to its similarity to pike perch.

Found in deep places with sandy or rocky muddy bottoms and currents. It was not found in lakes with stagnant water. And just like pike perch, it prefers water saturated with oxygen.

The diet is similar to the diet of pike perch - small fish and invertebrates. It has all the habits of a predatory fish. Keeps in packs.

It spawns later than pike perch, at the same time as bream. The fry swim near the shore, where it is easier to find food.

Catching bersh

If you stumble upon such a flock, the bite will be vigorous, but short. This time is enough for the catch to be good. It bites on a worm or other bait. Fishermen say that at the end of May there is a good bite for bersh on the spit between Samara and the Volga. True, it is short-lived - only 2-3 days, while the fish comes after spawning.

It is caught with a fishing rod and spinning rod, with a donkey and a girder. Various tackles are used as bait: silicone twisters, spinners and jigs, and they are also caught with live bait using small fish.

In winter, the fish hides under snags and hardly feeds. Winter fishing is rarely successful.

Bersha meat is considered a delicacy and is on the menu of many restaurants. Currently, the fish is recognized as rare and is listed in the Red Book.

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Bersh and pike perch: what are the differences, what kind of fish are they?

The second name of the fish is Volga pike perch. Freshwater fish of the perch family, closely related to pike perch. Some fishermen joke that bersh is a mixture of pike perch and pike perch. The bersh has no fangs, its cheeks are covered with scales. The color is similar to pike perch, but lighter and the number of stripes is smaller. The main difference is the size; in rivers it usually grows no more than 45 cm and weighs up to 1.5 kg. It grows better in reservoirs, where it can reach a weight of 2 kg. The ecology and general behavior of the fish is similar to pike perch of the same size, but the difference is that due to the lack of fangs, the bersh hunts smaller prey. Fangs help pike perch to capture and hold prey. In addition, the bersh has a narrower throat. In view of this, they specialize in hunting - smaller prey, compared to their “big brothers” - pike perch.

Methods of catching bersh

Catching bersh, along with pike perch, is a popular fishing activity. When fishing with natural bait, this can be fishing with live bait or pieces of meat. To do this, you can use various fishing rods, as well as rods, “stands” or mugs. Bersh are caught with artificial baits using traditional equipment, which is used when fishing for pike perch and pike perch. On large bodies of water, many anglers practice fishing from boats, “drifting” or at anchor. No less popular is trolling fishing in reservoirs and large rivers. In winter, in some regions, fishing for bersh, like pike perch, is a special tradition and a specialized type of fishing. Ice fishing is carried out using traditional fishing rods with jigs and spinners and specialized baits and tackle.

Fishing for bersh with a spinning rod

Bersch is an active predator. A huge number of spinning baits have been invented for fishing. The main criterion for selecting a rod in modern spinning fishing is the choice of fishing method: jig, twitching, etc. The length and test are selected depending on the fishing location, personal preferences and the bait used. Don’t forget that rods with a “medium” or “medium-fast” action “forgive” the angler’s mistakes much more than those with a “fast” action. It is advisable to purchase reels and cords that match the chosen fishing rod. The bersh bite on spinning baits often looks like weak “jabs”, so many anglers advise using exclusively cords. Due to its low elongation, the cord better “transmits” careful fish bites. In general, when catching bersh, various “jigging” fishing techniques and corresponding baits are more often used.

Winter fishing

In winter, bersha are caught quite actively. The main method of fishing is vertical trolling. In winter, fish constantly move around the reservoir in search of food. The main task for successful fishing is to find active fish. The choice of bait depends on the fishing conditions and the desires of the angler. There are many methods for successful fishing. Traditional lure in many cases is carried out with the addition of a small fish or a piece of fish meat. A huge number of specialized baits are made for this fishing, one of the options is the so-called “balers”, the main task of which is to create the illusion of feeding prey. In addition to natural baits, silicone baits or colored elements made of wool or plastic are used.

Catching bersh using various tackles

In the summer, bersha can be successfully caught with live bait using float rods. Bersch, along with perch and pike perch, is actively caught using various types of fishing gear using live bait and pieces of fish meat. These can be various zherlitsy, “circles”, saddles, etc. Of these, fishing with mugs is justifiably considered the most exciting and exciting. This method can be used to fish both in standing reservoirs and in slow-flowing large rivers. Fishing is very active. Several gears are installed on the surface of the reservoir, which need to be constantly monitored and live bait changed. Fans of this kind of fishing use a lot of devices for storing bait and gear. For example, you can mention special cans or buckets with water aerators to preserve live bait for as long as possible. Bersh actively reacts to fly fishing lures. For fishing, traditional fly fishing gear is used, used for catching medium-sized fish. These are one-handed rods of medium and large classes, switches and light two-handed rods. For fishing you will need fairly large, sailing or heavy baits, and therefore cords with short “heads” are better suited for casting.

Lures

As already mentioned, a large number of specialized spinners are used for winter fishing. There are quite a lot of homemade options that can surprise those ignorant of fishing with their “originality.” In addition to spinners, a variety of volumetric baits are currently actively used: balancers, winter wobblers and their modifications. In some cases, large jigs or spinning equipment for silicone baits are used to feed “dead fish”. In the summer, many fishermen use baits designed specifically for catching pike perch and bersh: foam rubber and polyurethane fish; weighted streamers; multi-component baits made from tinsel and cambrics; spinners made of metal tubes, etc. Various jig attachments and equipment for them have proven to be the main baits for bersha. Some fairly large species may be equipped with additional leashes and hooks. Currently, most of these baits are made of silicone. The choice can be very varied and is directly related to fishing conditions. For fly fishing, large, voluminous streamers are used; in the case of fishing in pits, heavily weighted streamers are used, using fast-sinking undergrowth.

Fishing places and habitat

The habitat of the bersha is the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas. The distribution is limited, some authors call it “Russian pike perch,” but it is known that fish populations live west of the Dnieper, at the mouth of the Danube and other rivers. In Russia, bersh is widespread not only on the Volga and its tributaries, but also in the Don, Ural, Terek and other rivers of the basins of these seas. It is believed that the bersh is actively expanding its habitat and has spread to the Kuban River and its tributaries. Introduced into Lake Balkhash. In rivers and reservoirs, the lifestyle is similar to pike perch. At a young age, it prefers to live in packs; large bershis adhere to depressions of the bottom and a solitary existence.

Differences between bersh and pike perch

The absence of fangs in the bersh is its main difference from the “fanged” pike perch.

Differences in appearance and size

Bersh is much smaller. In adulthood, its weight does not exceed 1.4 kg, and its length is 45 cm. The weight of adult pike perch reaches 15 kg, and the length can be about a meter.
It has scales on its gills, but in pike perch they are clean.
Bersh have small teeth, and pike perch have front fangs.
The bersha has larger eyes, a wider and shorter snout.
Its cheeks are covered with scales, which are larger than those of pike perch.
They are almost the same in color, however, the transverse stripes of the bersh have a more regular shape.

Differences in lifestyle and habitats

Pike perch are common in salt lakes and most rivers. Bersh lives in rivers that flow into the Caspian and northern Black Seas.
Despite the fact that they can live in one place, bersh is a schooling fish.
When catching these fish with fishing rods, the bersh grabs the bait by the tail, pinches it and does not reach the hook; the pike perch most often bites with a blow.
Bersh loves warm water, so it lives closer to the south. Pike perch is also numerous in northern rivers.

The listed rather eloquent signs indicate how these fish, which at first glance look similar to each other, differ.

Bersh and pike perch: description and habitat

Quite often, when fishing on the Volga, Oka or Dnieper, a bersh, very similar to a pike perch, is caught on a hook. In size, this fish is significantly inferior to pike perch and quite rarely reaches a weight of eight pounds .

This schooling predatory fish prefers clear water, moderate currents and sandy, pebble or rocky bottoms.

Large-sized bersh live almost on the fairway, young ones live near the shore, but always at the bottom.
Juveniles sometimes stay close to schools of pike perch.
The dimensions of the bersh are small: its weight is from 1.2–1.5 kg, its length is about 45 cm.
Fish live in schools and hunt fry. They are capable of swallowing prey no more than 7 cm long.
Habitat: Volga River and its tributaries, Caspian Sea.
Bersh spawns in the spring, sticking to deep sandy places.
It is actively caught in the first half of the day and takes jigs and all types of light-colored jigs.
Recently, the number of this fish species has increased significantly.

Bersh is a completely ordinary fish that is suitable for frying, boiling and fish soup .

Zander

This largest representative of the perch family lives in lakes and rivers.

The elongated body of the fish is covered with small scales with jagged edges, which partially extend to the tail and head.
The dorsal fins touch each other or are separated by a small gap.
All rays of the first dorsal fin are spiny, while the second has only three spiny rays.
The fish has elongated jaws and a large mouth with numerous small teeth.
There are spines on the gill bones of pike perch, and fangs on the jaws.
Its belly is white, its back is greenish-gray, and there are up to ten transverse black-brown stripes on its sides.
The ventral, pectoral and anal fins of pike perch are pale yellow.
The membranes of the caudal and dorsal fins are dotted with dark spots.

Pike perch are very sensitive to the oxygen content in water, so they do not live in polluted waters . Most often they live in lakes and rivers with muddy, sandy or slightly silted bottoms. They stay near steep banks, rocks, and among snags. Areas with vegetation are avoided. In winter, they continue to lead an active lifestyle and live in flocks in snags. During spring floods, they move to coastal areas of lakes, flooded areas of river floodplains and river banks.

Fishing with sprat in winter bersha

Bersh is in many ways similar to pike perch, not only in appearance, but also in behavior. Therefore, they practically never catch bersha on purpose - not only do the habitats often overlap with pike perch, but the baits are also similar in many ways.

The main difference between bersh and pike perch is size - the maximum weight of bersh is 1.5-2 kg, but more often individuals weighing 500-800 grams are caught.

The principle of catching pike perch can be taken as a basis for catching bersh with sprat, only with some differences.

Tackle

You can take the same gear as for catching pike perch. This will help avoid cliffs if, instead of a bersh, its larger brother bites.

If you purposefully go after a bersh, then a thinner rig with a less powerful fishing rod will do. Line diameter – 0.2 mm.

Lures

You can use medium and large jigs, oval or round in shape. Considering that bersha are caught mainly in medium and strong currents, it is better if they are made of tungsten, which has a higher specific gravity than tin or lead.

Spoons and balancers are selected small, based on the size of the bersh. Lures up to 7 cm long are optimal, with an average length of 3-5 cm. Hook size is 8-10.

Fishing tactics

The tactics for catching bersh in winter using sprat can be used the same as when catching pike perch. One of the differences is the fish's approach to the bait. Unlike pike perch, bersh takes the bait very carefully, as if testing it. He can bite off a piece of sprat without touching the hook, and too hasty hooking will leave the angler without prey. When moving the nod, you need to wait a little, giving the predator the opportunity to thoroughly swallow the hook. Depending on the size of the bersh, the sprat can be planted either as a whole or in small pieces of 2-3 cm, especially when using small spoons.

When playing with bait, in addition to the usual ascents and descents, they often use pulling, letting the tackle float freely with the current and slowly pulling it back.

Selecting a location

To minimize pike perch bites when fishing for bersh, you should carefully select your fishing spots. Unlike pike perch, bersh prefers rivers and channels with strong currents. It is especially good if there are a large number of snags and stones at the bottom. The soil prefers sandy and rocky. In the dead of winter it goes into deep snags. In sunny weather it often rises onto sandbanks with snags.

Lures for fishing

Most of all, fish love silicone baits, which are most similar to live ones. But it’s better to take all the types of colored baits that are available with you when fishing. Twisters, vibrating tails and even foam fish are used. It is better to hide the hook, for example, with wool.

The size of the bait should be no more than 8 cm.

The fish bite on brown, green and yellow colors. At night, he is attracted to very bright or luminous objects.

Bersh is often confused with pike perch, therefore, having understood the intricacies of its appearance and fishing features, you can show off your knowledge and catch to your friends.

Bersch or Volga pike perch is not related to ordinary pike perch, although both fish belong to the perch family. Little is known about his lifestyle, but it is all the more interesting to learn more. They are similar in appearance, but berche fish, unlike pike perch, do not have fangs. There are other differences that make these fish distinct individuals.

Common pike perch

The differences between pike perch and bass are important for any angler. Only by thoroughly studying the habits of two predators can you successfully catch one or another fish. There is much more information about pike perch.

On the Don and the coast of the Azov Sea, people call it sula. Knowing the habits of pike perch, you can choose the right feeding, tackle, bait and place for fishing. The result is a rich catch and a good mood.

The range of the common pike perch is quite wide. It can be caught in rivers flowing into seas and lakes such as:

Baltic.
Caspian.
Azovskoe.
Aral.
Black.
Issyk-Kul.
Balkhash.
other bodies of water.

This fish is quite large. There is evidence of catches of individuals more than a meter long and weighing 15 kg. It is quite possible that even larger specimens exist.

A characteristic feature of this fish is the presence of fang-shaped teeth, giving it a ferocious appearance. Females look more modest, their fangs are shorter than those of males.

Appearance

There are several varieties of this fish, differing in the color of their scales and the shape of their fins. All of them have an elongated fusiform body, laterally compressed. The scales are small, with uneven jagged edges and sit firmly in the skin. The scaly cover covers part of the head and tail. The lateral line extends onto the caudal fin. There are two fins on the back, they are either separated by a short distance or touch each other.

In one dorsal fin, which is closer to the head, all the rays are hard and spiny. In another - only 1-3, the rest are soft. The same “spines” are present in the anal fin and two ventral fins. The membranes of the fins on the back and tail are dotted with small spots of dark color.

The back is greenish-gray, darker closer to the fins. The belly is white or gray. Transverse stripes are clearly visible on the sides. They are brown-black, up to 10 or more pieces.

Difference between bersh and pike perch

Heated debate, even fights with minor injuries, is caused in the fishing community by a discussion about the differences between bersh and pike perch. But due to the fact that these animals belong to the same genus of Sudak, there are practically no fundamental differences between them.

Definition

Bersh , or Volga pike perch, is a species of fish belonging to the genus Sudak of the Okunev family.

Bersh

pike perch is a species of fish belonging to the same genus Pike perch.

Zander

Comparison

Bersh is a small fish that is found only in rivers flowing into the northern halves of the Black and Caspian Seas and the entire Sea of Azov.

The bersh differs from its brother, the common pike perch, only in its smaller size. An adult animal reaches only 45 cm in length and can “pull” a maximum of 1400 grams. Bershi live in flocks, hunting young of their own and other species. Capable of swallowing prey up to 7 cm in length.

Common pike perch is common in most rivers of Eurasia, as well as in salt lakes and places where rivers flow into the Black, Azov, and Aral seas, that is, in areas of greatest desalination.

Pike perch is a fish with an elongated body and a medium-sized head. Powerful jaws have a pair of teeth. Moreover, the fangs of males are much larger than those of females. The length of an adult pike perch can exceed 100 cm, and the weight reaches 15 kg.

Walleyes are predators. They eat gobies, sprat, bleak, minnows, bershes and their own fry. They prefer to live in clear water. At night they hunt in shallow waters, and during the day they hunt in the depths. In winter, pike perch take refuge together with bream and carp in bottom holes, which makes it possible to catch them with winter gear.

Pike perch begin to spawn in the fourth year of life. This happens in the spring, as soon as the average water temperature in the reservoir exceeds 12°C. Pike perch fry grow quickly and at the end of summer begin to eat the young of other fish that cannot keep up with them in their development rate.

Given the same nutritional value of dietary and protein-rich meat, bersh and pike perch are much preferable to catching the latter, because its size exceeds the parameters of its relatives by 7-10 times.