That's a pretty nice perch at 12 1/2 inches. I figured it's belly was fat due to crayfish inside, but it turned out to be spawn (eggs). Perch do not usually spawn until late winter, so it surprised me to find such mature looking eggs inside this one. It made me feel a little bit bad for keeping it. I did fillet the fish and had two nice fillets with two fried eggs and two slices of toast with jam and two glasses of water for breakfast two mornings later.
I do not wish to "gross you out", but here are the eggs from that perch. How many eggs do you think are in there? A little research told me (if you believe the internet) that a mature perch can lay from 10,000 to 40,000 eggs every year! Let's start counting. Some people like to fry up the roe (eggs) and eat them. I tried doing that a couple of years ago. They were okay tasting. I am glad I did it, but I don't need to do it again.
This is a screen grab from the web cam at South Beach in South Haven, MI. My wife and I took a day trip there a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed walking all over in town and on the beach. We crossed a bridge and walked over to North Beach so we walked out onto the second pier (breakwater) you see with the white and green lighthouse.
We had a nice, steady wind at the beach, so, even though it was a little bit chilly, I had a blast flying my two stringed stunt kite. It was fun diving and doing loops and flying the kite over the waters of Lake Michigan. A couple of times I touched the wing tip of the kite into the water and then flew it back up into the sky to dry. There were almost no people around, so I did not need to worry about hitting anyone with my kite and I hogged the beach and let that kite do its thing.
I do not get to see whitefish very often, so it was interesting to see folks catching them from the piers. They look to me like large shiner minnows, but they are in the salmon family. I guess I can see how they look a little bit like a salmon, too. Their meat is apparently quite mild and delicious even though they are bottom feeders. I read that they live in 200 feet deep waters and come in closer to shore to spawn in the fall.
We feel blessed to be able to travel to Lake Michigan so easily. The beauty of its waters, beaches and woodsy walks are a joy to us.
Thanks to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park for hosting Thornapple Woodlands, LLC again this December for a mead making class. It is a thrill for me to participate in the activities there and to teach in such a "classy" place. Plus, I get to share my passion for the natural wonder of fermentation--specifically fermented honey--Mead!
I was set up for the class in time to take a quick walk-through to see the decorated trees and other sights.
God bless us, every one.
