Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
Size9" min
Bag5 per person per day
SeasonYear-roundOpen today
Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries (MD DNR Chesapeake rules).
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
White perchSilvery, no vertical bars. Tell them apart
SizeNone by hook and line (8" min by other gear)
BagNo daily limit
SeasonYear-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Six to eight dark vertical bars on gold-olive sides; two separate dorsal fins; orange-red lower fins on spring males. More on the yellow perch page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Yellow perch in other states1 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for yellow perch in Maryland?
9" min.
How many yellow perch can you keep in Maryland?
5 per person per day.
When is yellow perch season in Maryland?
Year-round.
How current is this Maryland yellow 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.
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