Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNone by hook and line (8" min by other gear)
BagNo daily limit
SeasonYear-roundOpen today
Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries.
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Yellow perchGold with dark vertical bars. Tell them apartSize9" min
Bag5 per person per day
SeasonYear-round
Striped bassLonger, with unbroken stripes. Tell them apartSize19-24 in TL slot (Chesapeake); Atlantic Ocean: 28-31 in slot
Bag1
SeasonChesapeake harvest May 1-Jul 31 and Sep 1-Dec 5; catch-and-release Jan-Apr and Dec 6-31; ALL targeting closed Aug 1-31
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 Maryland?
None by hook and line (8" min by other gear).
How many white perch can you keep in Maryland?
No daily limit.
When is white perch season in Maryland?
Year-round.
How current is this Maryland white perch rule?
Source: MD DNR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a white perch in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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