Improving reproductive protocols is one crucial step towards aquaculture expansion of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), which is still characterised by variable and/or low spawning e?ectiveness. One of the main challenges is to synchronise ovulation at a precisely planned time with a consistently satisfactory reproductive outcome. To this end, the present study examined the e?ect of di?erent spawning agents (human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] and salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue [sGnRHa]) with di?erent doses and application modes (including double injection). The study covered three consecutive spawning seasons, which corresponded to three distinct experiments, where domesticated pikeperch broodstock, commercially grown in a recirculating aquaculture system, was used. In the ?rst year of the study, the e?ect of di?erent doses of sGnRHa (10, 25 and 50μgkg−1) and hCG (250, 500 and 1000IUkg−1) on the reproductive performance of the domesticated broodstock was evaluated. The results were also compared with literature data for wild ?sh. During the second and third years, typical indicators of spawning performance (ovulation rate, latency time and egg quality) were followed when a double sGnRHa injection was compared to a single 50μgkg−1 or 500IUkg−1 injection of sGnRHa or hCG, respectively; the best results were obtained in the ?rst and second experiments. The results of the present study clearly indicate that various hormonal treatments e?ectively induced domesticated pikeperch ovulation, although highly variable egg quality was observed throughout the three spawning seasons (maximum hatching rates were 60.6 ± 11.5, 37.7 ± 28.9 and 49.1 ± 24.7% in the ?rst, second and third years of the study, respectively). However, additional analysis of the data from the entire study revealed for the ?rst time that a signi?cant proportion of the lower-quality eggs came from ?sh that responded ‘early’ to hormonal treatment (<120h after injection) regardless of the hormone used. This group represented approximately 40% of the population each year. Further, most of the ?sh that responded to hormone treatment early exhibited this trait during all three consecutive spawning seasons. This ?nding indicates that early hormone response is a potential selection trait. The present study showed that controlled domesticated pikeperch broodstock reproduction may involve application of either hCG or sGnRHa, with no clear di?erence in their e?ectiveness, although the recommended doses are 500IUkg−1 and 50μgkg−1, respectively.