Walleye
Brightous Eyeous
5
kilograms

average weight

Lives in darker parts of lakes and reservoirs

1

type in Canada

3
years

sustainable age

History

Walleye is the bat of the fish world – it only comes out at night. The freshwater fish has a reflective layer behind its retina that improves its eyesight in dark and cloudy waters. Those eyes are also super sensitive to light, so the walleye spends most of its time in darker parts of the water. You’ll find this member of the perch family in deep lakes and reservoirs between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains.

Best sustainable option

Pickerel from the Canadian Great Lakes and from Alberta and Saskatchewan is considered sustainable.

In Season

janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Landed

6,869 tonnes

were brought onshore in Canada in 2014.

Did you know?

Though they have superior eyesight in dark environments, pickerels can only see red and green as they lack blue and yellow pigments in their eyes.

Taste/Texture

White meat with a sweet flavor.

Watch a video on Walleye

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How to cook

Seared walleye fillet with Brown Butter Caper Sauce and Spatzle

Tender and soft walleye fillets get a butter bath in a hot skillet to give them a perfect crispy skin, and are then topped with a brown butter caper sauce and served with spätzle for a rich and satisfying dish.

General cooking tips

Pickerel have white meat that has a sweetness to it. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, but the most popular are battering and frying, or baking.

More recipes ▸

Meet Chef Spencer Watts

Chef Spencer Watts says cooking is the great love of his life. His father and grandfather were both cod fishermen, so a love of fishing and being on the water runs in his blood. Growing up on the lower mainland of British Columbia, Spencer was inspired by the vast array of fresh local ingredients available.

Spencer is a graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. He quickly progressed through the ranks at The Westin Grand and C restaurant, while training with some of the best local talent in the culinary scene. In 2007 he opened his very own restaurant, ‘Spence on the Coast,’ in Sechelt. Later he started his own local cable cooking show called “Coast Cooking with Spence.”

Spencer is presently enjoying life in Vancouver while working on his cookbook and promoting sustainable seafood.

History

Walleye is the bat of the fish world – it only comes out at night. The freshwater fish has a reflective layer behind its retina that improves its eyesight in dark and cloudy waters. Those eyes are also super sensitive to light, so the walleye spends most of its time in darker parts of the water. You’ll find this member of the perch family in deep lakes and reservoirs between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains.

Best sustainable option

Pickerel from the Canadian Great Lakes and from Alberta and Saskatchewan is considered sustainable.

In Season

janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Landed

6,869 tonnes

were brought onshore in Canada in 2014.

Did you know?

Though they have superior eyesight in dark environments, pickerels can only see red and green as they lack blue and yellow pigments in their eyes.

Taste/Texture

White meat with a sweet flavor.