Maryland weighs an 8-inch minimum for white perch as young-fish numbers lag

Maryland's white perch could get their first size limit. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is taking early comments on a proposal to list white perch as a "species in need of conservation" and set an 8-inch minimum size for every gear type, including hook and line.

DNR's summary, dated Oct. 29, gives a second option with one exception. In June, commercial hook-and-line fishermen could keep smaller perch to use as striped bass bait.

The agency points to eight straight years (2019–2026) of below-average young-of-year production. Commercial landings are down about 75% since 2020, and recreational harvest is down 29% since 2022. White perch mature at two to three years old but don't reach 8 inches until about five or six, so many fish are kept before they reach that size. DNR also lists predation by invasive blue catfish as a factor. Since 2000, Maryland's landings have averaged about 1.26 million pounds commercially and 1.67 million pounds recreationally.

DNR discussed the idea with its Sport Fisheries and Tidal Fisheries advisory commissions in October. Scoping comments are due by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 13.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Maryland DNR white perch scoping summary (PDF) (Oct. 29, 2026), via the DNR regulation changes page; also covered by CCA Maryland (Nov. 3, 2026).