Domestic vs. European Lakefish

A FinFish Face-Off

North American Species

Walleye - Sander Vitreum
Yellow Perch - Perca Flavescens

European Species

Zander/Pikeperch - Sander Lucioperca
Lake Perch - Perca Fluvlatilis
Map of north America and Europe. highlighting green region in NA, and orange in Europe

Domestic

Walleye

Sander Vitreum

VS.

European

Zander/Pikeperch

Sander Lucioperca

yellow perch fishEuro lake perch fish

Important Characteristics

  • Caught in Lake Erie, local food source
  • Available in fillet sizes ranging 4 oz - 14 oz
  • Chemical-free, single frozen
  • J-Cut fillet available > 100% useable > no skin/bones

Family: Percidae (Perches)
Latin Name: Sander Vitreum

  • Zander is the European cousin to Walleye
  • Caught in the remote lakes and rivers of Europe
  • Very mild tasting, smaller bone profile than Walleye
  • Almost indistinguishable from Walleye (taste)
  • Chemical-free, single frozen.
  • Provides the smaller fillets sizes that are unavailable in Walleye
  • Strong Consistency of supply - operators can sell with confidence.
  • Wide ranging selection of fillet sizes from 3/4 oz - 14 oz.
  • Perfect fish fry item!

Family: Percidae (Perches)
Latin Name: Sander Lucioperca

Physical Appearance

  • Sharp canine teeth
  • Wall-eyed prominent glassy eyes
  • Olive & gold with light underside
  • Weight up to 25 lb.
  • Sharp canine teeth
  • Wall-eyed prominent glassy eyes
  • Transverse dark bands (tiger stripes), on olive/gold body

Taste & Texture

Walleye is almost boneless andhas lean, tender, but still very firm meat with a sweet, subtle flavour.

Pikeperch/Zander is almost boneless andhas lean, tender, but still very firm meat with a sweet, subtle flavour. NO FISHY TASTE

Yellow Perch

Perca Flavescens

VS.

Euro Lake Perch

Perca Fluviatilis

Euro lake perch fishyellow perch fish

Family: Percidae (Perches)
Latin Name: Perca flavescens

Family: Percidae (Perches)
Latin Name: Perca fluviatilis

Physical Appearance

5-9 dark vertical stripes which fade near the cream-coloured belly
Gold or yellow with laterally compressed body with an oval, oblong shape
Adult sizes typically range from 3.9”–11.4”

5-9 dark vertical stripes which fade nearthe cream-coloured belly
Gold or yellow with laterally compressed body with an oval, oblong shape
Adult sizes typically range from 3.9”–11.4”

Taste & Texture

Fresh yellow perch has moist, translucent,pink flesh with no fishy odor. Cooked, the lean meat is white, with a mild, sweet flavor and firm but flaky texture.

Fresh Euro perch has moist, translucent,pink flesh with no fishy odor. Cooked, the lean meat is white, with a mild, sweet flavor and firm but flaky texture.

Did You Know?

Many fish processors produce treated freshwater lakefish  (sodium tripolyphosphate - "STPP”)  which is added through injection, soaking or vacuum tank tumbling, resulting in a loss of flavor and a degradation of product quality.

These processes & over-glazing reduce the net weight per case by 5 -15%. In an effort to provide only the healthiest, and best quality product, FinFish will always serve your lakefish without any potentially harmful chemicals, or additives.

Be sure to check your competitors ingredient labels for “Moisture, Phosphates, Sodium Phosphates, etc” = all STPP

imagine of fish in a factory
imagine of fish in a factory

Needle Injection

Fish fillets are placed on conveyer that takes has 1000’sof tiny needles whichinject STPP intoeach fillet.

imagine of fish in a factory

Soaking

Fish fillets are soaked in a solution of Sodium Tripolyphosphate

vacuum tumbler

Vacuum Tumbler

Fish fillets are tumbled in a solution of Sodium Tripolyphosphate - a faster process than soaking.