White Perch
Morone americana
Also called Perch.
How to tell it
Silvery with an olive back and no bars; deep, compressed body; spiny and soft dorsal fins joined at the base.
- Not a yellow perch? That one gold with dark vertical bars. (Yellow Perch)
- Not a striped bass? That one longer, with unbroken stripes. (Striped Bass)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 7" min | 30 per angler per day | Year-roundCT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 8" min | No daily limit | Year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | None by hook and line (8" min by other gear) | No daily limit | Year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | 8" min | 25 per day | Year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | No size limit | 25 per day | Year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2 lb 12 oz | 1998 · Little Beach Creek | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 3 lb 1 oz | 2023 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Very good — small, sweet fillets.
In the app
Point the camera at a white 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 white perch
What is the size limit for white perch?
It depends on the state. Connecticut: 7" min; Delaware: 8" min; Massachusetts: 8" min.
How many white perch can you keep?
Connecticut: 30 per angler per day; Delaware: No daily limit; Maryland: No daily limit; Massachusetts: 25 per day; New Hampshire: 25 per day.
How do you tell white perch from yellow perch?
White Perch has this: Silvery with an olive back and no bars; deep, compressed body; spiny and soft dorsal fins joined at the base.. Yellow Perch gold with dark vertical bars.
What is the record white perch?
3 lb 1 oz in New York (2023). Other states’ records are in the table.