The aim of the study was to compare the fatty acids profile, fat content, and total cholesterol in the muscles of female perch, Perca fluviatilis L., caught in fall and spring. The group of fish examined was comprised of perch caught in the Włocławski Reservoir in December 2005 and June 2006. Analysis indicated that the muscles of the fish caught in fall had higher total cholesterol and fat content (53.91 mg 100 g-1 and 2.17%, respectively) in comparison with the level of these parameters in the muscles of perch caught in spring (44.74 mg 100 g-1 and 1.94%, respectively). In both seasons, the main saturated fatty acid (SFA) was C16:0, the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were dominated by C18:1 n-6, and the highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was of C20:5 n-3. The total SFA and PUFA was higher in the muscles of perch caught in fall at 47.53 and 28.65%, respectively, in contrast to the values of these acids in spring, which were 43.02% and 21.73%, respectively. Total MUFA in fall (23.83%) was lower than in spring (32.24%).
