Ohio regulations
Yellow Perch Regulations in Ohio 2026
Ohio yellow perch 2026 open seasons vary by 13 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 30/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (24)
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 13"
safe to eat two meals per week May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And TributariesOpen
- Status
- Open
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026, daily limit to be announced late April
Lake Erie And Its Embayments Including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, And West Harbor, And From Where Lake Erie Tributaries Enter The Lake Upstream To The Following End Points: Arcola, Wheeler, Cowles, And Indian Creeks : U.s. Route 20 Bridges; Ashtabula River: E. 24th Street Bridge; Black River: State Route 611 Bridge; Conneaut Creek: Main Street Bridge (Downtown To Conneaut); Euclid Creek And Chagrin River: State Route 283 Bridges; Rocky River: Detroit Road Bridge; Sandusky River: Waterworks Dam In Tiffin; Maumee River: First Dam Upstream (Grand Rapids, Ohio); Vermilion River: State Route 2 Bridge; Grand River: State Route 535 Bridge; Cuyahoga River: Harvard Road Bridge.In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Feb 28
May 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; to be announced late April
Lake Erie Central ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 10
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie East ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 30
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie West ZoneOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 30
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Lake Erie, Central Zone
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
March 1 - April 30, 2025
Other Ohio fish regulations
Other regulated species in Ohio with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)40 rules
- Smallmouth Bass14 rules
- Largemouth Bass12 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)12 rules
- Walleye11 rules
- Channel Catfish4 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)4 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)4 rules
- Northern Pike2 rules
Frequently asked questions
When is Yellow Perch season in Ohio?
Yellow Perch season in Ohio runs from May 1 to Feb 28 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Yellow Perch in Ohio?
Minimum size for Yellow Perch in Ohio is 13 inches in Lake Erie, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Yellow Perch in Ohio?
Daily bag limit for Yellow Perch in Ohio is 10 fish/day in Central Zone, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25OHFW_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/ohio/fishing/lake-erie-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/OH/25OHFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.