It's a Fishing Day

Species

White Perch

Morone americana · family Moronidae

Live · updated

Smaller cousin of the striped bass and arguably the Bay's most popular panfish. Schools heavily in tidal rivers and creeks; hits bottom rigs with bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small jigs. Spring spawning run into the freshwater ends of tributaries is the marquee fishery.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
50–78°F (ideal 65°F)
Tide
outgoing
Moon
either
Depth
3–25 ft
Active months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best white perch conditions today

Choptank River — Cambridge

Dorchester Co., MD
52/100

Sandy Point State Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Conowingo Dam Tailrace

Harford Co., MD
48/100

Susquehanna Flats

Cecil Co., MD
48/100

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier

Harford Co., MD
48/100

Rocky Point Park — Essex

Baltimore Co., MD
48/100

North Point State Park

Baltimore Co., MD
48/100

Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Romancoke Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Matapeake Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Betterton Beach

Kent Co., MD
48/100

Fort Smallwood Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Mayo Beach Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Beverly Triton Nature Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Downs Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Rock Hall Beach

Kent Co., MD
48/100

Martinak State Park

Caroline Co., MD
48/100

Miami Beach Park

Baltimore Co., MD
48/100

Cox's Point Park

Baltimore Co., MD
48/100

Rolph's Wharf

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Public Landing Beach

Worcester Co., MD · harvest closed
43/100

Slaughter Beach

Sussex Co., DE
38/100

Broadkill Beach

Sussex Co., DE
38/100

Augustine Beach

New Castle Co., DE
38/100

Mariner Point Park

Harford Co., MD

Flying Point Park

Harford Co., MD

North East Community Park

Cecil Co., MD

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

Cecil Co., MD

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Baltimore Co., MD

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)

Cecil Co., MD

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Somerset Co., MD

Kitts Hummock Beach

Kent Co., DE

Lewes Canal

Sussex Co., DE

Potomac River — Williamsport

Washington Co., MD · harvest closed

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Wicomico Co., MD

Tyaskin Wharf

Wicomico Co., MD

Cove Road Beach

Wicomico Co., MD

Friendship Farm Park

Charles Co., MD · harvest closed

Chapel Point State Park

Charles Co., MD · harvest closed

Jug Bay — Patuxent River

Anne Arundel Co., MD

Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier

Calvert Co., MD

North Beach (Calvert)

Calvert Co., MD

Bowers Beach

Kent Co., DE

South Bowers Beach

Kent Co., DE

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area

Kent Co., DE

Port Mahon

Kent Co., DE

Solomons Island Fishing Pier

Calvert Co., MD

Flag Ponds Nature Park

Calvert Co., MD

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

Calvert Co., MD

Elms Beach Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Myrtle Point Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Greenwell State Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Snow Hill Farm Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Potomac River — Point of Rocks

Frederick Co., MD · harvest closed

Mason Neck State Park

Fairfax Co., VA

Occoquan Regional Park

Fairfax Co., VA

Pohick Bay Regional Park

Fairfax Co., VA

Chapman State Park

Charles Co., MD

Breezy Point Beach

Calvert Co., MD

Kings Landing Park

Calvert Co., MD

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area

Dorchester Co., MD

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Dorchester Co., MD

Point Lookout State Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Belle Isle State Park

Lancaster Co., VA

Smith Point Beach

Northumberland Co., VA

Leesylvania State Park

Prince William Co., VA

Ocean View Beach

Norfolk Co., VA

Hilton Pier Park

Newport News Co., VA

Anderson Park

Newport News Co., VA

Buckroe Beach

Hampton Co., VA

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

Stale: last verified 81 days ago.

tidal bay

Creel
0

No minimum size when caught with hook and line; 8-inch minimum for other legal gear. No daily creel limit. Open year-round in Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

Stale: last verified 81 days ago.

tidal delaware

Min size
8"
Creel
0

Delaware tidal waters (Delaware Bay, Delaware River, tributaries, Inland Bays): 8-inch minimum. No daily creel limit. Note: DE applies a size minimum where MD does not for hook-and-line, so the rule is actually more restrictive on the DE side for small fish.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (tidal — VMRC)

Stale: last verified 81 days ago.

tidal bay

Min size
8"
Creel
25

Virginia tidal waters (lower Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, excluding the Potomac main stem): 8-inch minimum, 25 per day. VMRC recreational rule. Significantly more restrictive than MD (no size minimum, no creel) on the creel side. Spring spawning-run tributaries can see emergency gear restrictions — verify with VMRC before March runs.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Potomac main stem (PRFC)

Stale: last verified 81 days ago.

tidal potomac

Min size
8"
Creel
10

Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 8-inch minimum, 10 per day for recreational hook-and-line. More restrictive than either MD or VA tidal rules — PRFC caps the creel where neither state does. Spring tributary runs (Pomonkey, Mattawoman, Nanjemoy) are the marquee fishery.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Data from NOAA, NWS, MD DNR, DE DNREC, VA DWR/VMRC

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