2026 regulation year
Yellow perch Fishing Regulations by State (2026)
Perca flavescens
Last updated
Yellow perch is regulated separately by each state. This page compares the open-season window, daily bag limit, and size or slot rule for yellow perch across the 13 states fishregs covers deeply for 2026 — 1 set a defined harvest season and 12 keep it open year-round. Rules vary by state and often by individual water body, so confirm on the linked state page before fishing. New to bag, slot, and size limits? The glossary explains every term.
Yellow perch regulations comparison by state
| State | Open season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | Open year-round | 3 / day (DC DOEE); 10 / day on the PRFC tidal Potomac mainstem | 8 in minimum (DC DOEE); 9 in minimum on the PRFC tidal Potomac mainstem |
| Iowa | Open year-round | 25 / day per angler statewide; no daily limit on the Missouri River | No minimum length statewide |
| Maryland | – · Tidal waters + nontidal rivers & streams – · Nontidal lakes, ponds & reservoirs | 5 / day in tidal waters + nontidal rivers & streams (reduced from 10 effective 2026); 10 / day in nontidal lakes, ponds & reservoirs | 9 in min in tidal waters + nontidal rivers & streams; no minimum size in nontidal lakes, ponds & reservoirs |
| Michigan | Open year-round | 25 / day (most waters); 50 / day on Lake Erie | No minimum size |
| New York | Open year-round | 50 / day | No statewide minimum size |
| North Dakota | Open year-round | 20 / day per angler statewide (one of the most generous perch bags in the country) | No statewide minimum |
| Ohio | Open year-round | Lake Erie: zone-specific (2026: West 30 / Central 10 / East 20); inland: 30 / day | No statewide minimum length |
| Pennsylvania | Open year-round | 50 / day inland (combined panfish — perch, sunfish, crappie); Lake Erie 30 / day (2026) | No statewide minimum size |
| South Dakota | Open year-round | 15 / day per angler statewide | No statewide minimum |
| Utah | Open year-round | 50 / day no statewide minimum; 15 / day at Willard Bay Reservoir + inlet channel | No statewide minimum |
| Vermont | Open year-round | 50 / day combined panfish (bluegill + bullhead + crappie + pumpkinseed + rock bass + yellow perch), no more than 25 crappie; NO daily limit on Lake Champlain | No minimum length on yellow perch statewide (crappie 8 in min) |
| Wisconsin | Open year-round | 25 / day combined panfish (inland); separate reduced bag on Lake Michigan & Green Bay | No minimum length on inland waters |
| Wyoming | Open year-round | 50 / day in combination with other panfish (yellow perch + crappie + bluegill + pumpkinseed + green sunfish + rock bass + black bullhead + stonecat + freshwater drum) | No statewide minimum |
Figures are statewide defaults for 2026. Specific lakes, rivers, and coastal zones can carry their own yellow perch rules — open any state row for the full season map, gear restrictions, and named water-body overrides.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a nationwide yellow perch season or bag limit?
- No. Each US state sets its own yellow perch rules. Across the 13 states covered here, 12 keep harvest open year-round while 1 defines a closed season, and daily bag and size limits differ from state to state. Use the table above to compare, then open a state page for the exact current rule.
- Does my fishing license cover yellow perch in every state?
- No. A fishing license is valid only in the state that issued it, apart from a few border-water reciprocity agreements. To fish yellow perch in another state you generally need that state's non-resident license — compare non-resident fees on the license-fees page and check the reciprocity page for shared-water exceptions.
- Why do yellow perch rules vary so much between states?
- Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is a freshwater species, and each state manages it for its own water temperatures, spawning timing, population health, and fishing pressure. Many states also set tougher rules on specific lakes or rivers, so the statewide figure shown here can be overridden on a named water body — always confirm on the linked state page before fishing.
- Why does one state show more than one yellow perch season?
- Several states split yellow perch into management zones — different coasts, river drainages, or regions open and close on different dates. Where that happens the table shows each zone's window; the state page lists the full zone map.