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

Slaughter Beach

Sussex Co., DE
68/100

Broadkill Beach

Sussex Co., DE
68/100

Potomac River — Williamsport

Washington Co., MD
62/100

Augustine Beach

New Castle Co., DE
62/100

Choptank River — Cambridge

Dorchester Co., MD
52/100

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area

Dorchester Co., MD
52/100

Friendship Farm Park

Charles Co., MD
52/100

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Dorchester Co., MD
52/100

Chapel Point State Park

Charles Co., MD
52/100

Conowingo Dam Tailrace

Harford Co., MD
48/100

Romancoke Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Matapeake Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD
48/100

Jug Bay — Patuxent River

Anne Arundel Co., MD
48/100

Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier

Calvert Co., MD
48/100

Occoquan Regional Park

Fairfax Co., VA
48/100

Mariner Point Park

Harford Co., MD
48/100

Chapman State Park

Charles Co., MD
48/100

Betterton Beach

Kent Co., MD
48/100

Fort Smallwood 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

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Baltimore 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

North Beach (Calvert)

Calvert Co., MD
48/100

Lewes Canal

Sussex Co., DE
43/100

Susquehanna Flats

Cecil Co., MD
40/100

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier

Harford Co., MD
40/100

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

Calvert Co., MD
36/100

Elms Beach Park

St. Mary's Co., MD
36/100

Myrtle Point Park

St. Mary's Co., MD
36/100

Greenwell State Park

St. Mary's Co., MD
36/100

Snow Hill Farm Park

St. Mary's Co., MD
36/100

Tyaskin Wharf

Wicomico Co., MD
36/100

Belle Isle State Park

Lancaster Co., VA
36/100

Smith Point Beach

Northumberland Co., VA
36/100

Buckroe Beach

Hampton Co., VA
36/100

Ocean View Beach

Norfolk Co., VA
36/100

Hilton Pier Park

Newport News Co., VA
36/100

Potomac River — Point of Rocks

Frederick Co., MD

Public Landing Beach

Worcester Co., MD

Kings Landing Park

Calvert Co., MD

North East Community Park

Cecil Co., MD

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

Cecil 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

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)

Cecil Co., MD

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Somerset Co., MD

Cove Road Beach

Wicomico Co., MD

Mayo Beach Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD

Rocky Point Park — Essex

Baltimore Co., MD

Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier

Queen Anne's Co., MD

Mason Neck State Park

Fairfax Co., VA

Pohick Bay Regional Park

Fairfax Co., VA

Leesylvania State Park

Prince William Co., VA

Sandy Point State Park

Anne Arundel Co., MD

North Point State Park

Baltimore Co., MD

Flying Point Park

Harford Co., MD

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Wicomico Co., MD

Solomons Island Fishing Pier

Calvert Co., MD

Flag Ponds Nature Park

Calvert Co., MD

Anderson Park

Newport News Co., VA

Breezy Point Beach

Calvert Co., MD

Kitts Hummock Beach

Kent Co., DE

Point Lookout State Park

St. Mary's Co., MD

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

Stale: last verified 140 days ago.

tidal bay

Creel
no daily limit

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

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

atlantic

Creel
no daily limit

No separate Atlantic-coastal reg — the statewide rule applies: no minimum size or creel limit by hook & line (8" minimum with other gear).

Source · verified 2026-08-28

Delaware (tidal)

Stale: last verified 140 days ago.

tidal delaware

Min size
8"
Creel
no daily limit

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 140 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 140 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

Maryland (non-tidal)

Stale: last verified 12 days ago.

non tidal

Creel
no daily limit

Non-tidal: no minimum size and no daily creel limit; open year-round.

Source · verified 2026-08-28

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

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