Virginia sets no statewide daily limit and no statewide length limit for perch; yellow and white perch are listed together. Two waters differ: Lake Moomaw allows 10 perch a day, and in the tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay below the fall line you may not keep a yellow perch under 9 inches.
Verified 2026-10-30
Updated
Limits at a glance
Regulation period: January 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026.
Statewide (waters with no listed exception)
∞no daily limit
Daily limit No daily limit (yellow and white perch)
DatesOpen all year
Size ruleNo statewide length limit
Lake Moomaw
10per day
Daily limit 10 per day (yellow and white perch)
Dates
Year-round (as printed)
Size ruleNo length limit listed for this lake
Tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay below the fall line
∞no daily limit
Daily limit No daily limit listed
Dates
Year-round (as printed)
Size ruleNo yellow perch under 9 inches
Watch for
On tidal rivers, below the designated license lines (for example the Potomac at the Route 301 bridge, the Rappahannock at the Route 360 bridge, and the York system at the Route 33 bridges) either a freshwater or a saltwater license is valid; upstream of those lines you need a freshwater license.
Virginia residents under 16 do not need a fishing license.
These figures come from the 2026 digest, which runs to Dec. 31, 2026. We will re-check them when the 2027 digest is published.
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Virginia · Yellow perch
Quick answers
What is the daily limit for yellow perch in Virginia?
Statewide (waters with no listed exception): No daily limit (yellow and white perch). Size rule: No statewide length limit. Other waters and date windows have different rules; see the table. Verify with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Which regulations do these Virginia figures come from?
January 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026, as published by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Last verified 2026-10-30.