Sand Perch
Diplectrum formosum
How to tell it
Cigar-shaped little sea bass pinstriped in blue and orange, brightest on the cheeks.
- Not a rock sea bass? That one stockier, dark blotch mid-dorsal. (Rock Sea Bass)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 0 lb 2.4 oz | 2019 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 0.59 lb | 1993 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Sweet white meat despite the size.
In the app
Point the camera at a sand perch and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about sand perch
How do you tell sand perch from rock sea bass?
Sand Perch has this: Cigar-shaped little sea bass pinstriped in blue and orange, brightest on the cheeks.. Rock Sea Bass stockier, dark blotch mid-dorsal.
What is the record sand perch?
0.59 lb in Texas (1993), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.