Nice fish! The chances are very likely that it was a female. Perhaps it hasn't started spawning yet. The spawn is just starting with a few months to go so it might be a late bloomer. The reason for me saying it was most likely a female is because males rarely live beyond 12" where as a female if given the chance to live a full life can reach 17". Another interesting thing about perch is that they are short lived with a life span of only about 6 years. They don't move around a whole lot either. Most will not move more than 6 miles from the beach where they leave the womb (live birth also very cool). I read about on some site for which I can't remember the address. Do a google search on barred surf perch and it will come up. Interesting reading.

JerryG