It's a Fishing Day

Species

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens · family Percidae

Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
45–70°F (ideal 58°F)
Tide
slack
Moon
either
Depth
5–30 ft
Active months
Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best yellow perch conditions today

  1. Conowingo Dam Tailrace Harford, MD
    80/100
  2. Susquehanna Flats Cecil, MD
    80/100
  3. Havre de Grace Fishing Pier Harford, MD
    80/100
  4. Jug Bay — Patuxent River Anne Arundel, MD
    80/100
  5. Prettyboy Reservoir Baltimore, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  6. Choptank River — Cambridge Dorchester, MD
    68/100
  7. Loch Raven Reservoir Baltimore, MD · harvest closed
    62/100
  8. Lums Pond State Park New Castle, DE
    62/100
  9. Burke Lake Park Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    62/100
  10. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD · harvest closed
    35/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

tidal bay

Min size
9"
Creel
5

Chesapeake Bay tidal waters: 9-inch minimum, 5 per day, open year-round. Some tributaries have historically had emergency closures during the spring spawn — check the MDDNR site annually before the February–March run.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

non tidal

Creel
50

Delaware non-tidal waters: yellow perch is regulated as "panfish" in aggregate with white perch, crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed — 50 fish/day total, no more than 25 of any one species. No minimum size. Not listed separately in DE tidal creel table.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (tidal — VMRC)

tidal bay

Min size
9"
Creel
5

Virginia tidal waters (Chesapeake Bay tributaries): 9-inch minimum, 5 per day. Spawning-run tributaries (Pamunkey, Mattaponi, upper James, Rappahannock) are the primary fishery. Same size minimum as MD; creel identical.

Source · verified 2026-04-22