I almost grew up on Buttermouth Perch. My folks split when I was a kid, I lived in Seal Beach and spent my young and teen age years fishing.
Buttermouth Perch were THE CATCH to get. Good fight and Great to eat. Fried like the post above. If you filet them you can avoid most of the bones, but in my oppinion, you are waisting alot of meat. Gut them, take off the head, and fry em the way you like em. ERIK