Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Size8" min
Bag25 per day
SeasonYear-roundOpen today
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Yellow perchGold with dark vertical bars. Tell them apartNot listed by Massachusetts: the default applies (No limit, no bag limit).
Striped bassLonger, with unbroken stripes. Tell them apartSize28" to less than 31" slot
Bag1 fish
SeasonOpen year-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Silvery with an olive back and no bars; deep, compressed body; spiny and soft dorsal fins joined at the base. More on the white perch page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
White perch in other states5 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for white perch in Massachusetts?
8" min.
How many white perch can you keep in Massachusetts?
25 per day.
When is white perch season in Massachusetts?
Year-round.
How current is this Massachusetts white perch rule?
Source: MA DMF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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