Yellow perch across North Carolina
Finding and keeping yellow perch, by North Carolina rules.
- no creel limitdaily creel
- 2 lbs, 9 ozrecord
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: Robert Colletta, Public domain
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Where yellow perch fit in North Carolina
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) lives in North Carolina’s freshwater habitat. NCWRC sets a creel of no creel limit with no size limit where all inland and joint fishing waters.
The state record is 2 lbs, 9 oz, taken at Indiantown Creek in 1990. Look for it on 2 lakes and 0 streams listed here.
How NCWRC describes yellow perch
“The Yellow Perch is greenish yellow along the back, with darker-colored bands on its sides. It has two separate dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is spiny, and there is a very sharp edge on the gill covering. The pelvic and anal fins are amber to bright orange. The Yellow Perch is a small fish, averaging around 7 to 9 inches, but its size varies with location.”
“Yellow Perch are often found in cool, clear lakes, with a sandy or gravelly bottom and rooted underwater vegetation. They also inhabit lakes with soft bottoms. In North Carolina, Yellow Perch are abundant in tannic, blackwater rivers and streams located in the Coastal Plain. Yellow Perch are considered shallow-water dwellers and are not usually caught more than 30 feet deep.”
- Fishing tipsAnglers can use many angling methods for yellow perch, including natural baits, such as worms, crickets or maggots. Keep your hook on or near the bottom, suspended under a float. Perch strike lightly so a float may help detect a bite. Small jigs and spinners are also effective.
- Where to fishYellow Perch are caught throughout North Carolina. In the eastern part of the state, good catches of Yellow Perch can occur in Lake Phelps and Lake Waccamaw as well as the Chowan, Neuse, North, Perquimans, Roanoke and Tar-Pamlico rivers and their tributaries. Yellow Perch also can be found in many P
- AbundanceCommon in several of the Catawba and Yadkin impoundments, as well as lakes and rivers in the Coastal region of NC.
Quoted from the NCWRC species profile, checked October 2026.
Creel limits for yellow perch
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | All inland and joint fishing waters | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
North Carolina record yellow perch
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line by weight | 2 lbs, 9 oz | Indiantown Creek | 1990 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Where NCWRC records place yellow perch
Reservoirs for yellow perch
- Lake PhelpsWashington
- Lake WaccamawColumbus
NCWRC stocking lists, regulation tables, species profiles and records; largest waters first.
Species that pair with yellow perch
- Largemouth bassfresh
- Smallmouth bassfresh
- Spotted bassfresh
- Alabama bassfresh
- Bartram's bassfresh
- Black crappiefresh
- White crappiefresh
- Bluegillfresh
- Redear sunfishfresh
- Redbreast sunfishfresh
- Pumpkinseedfresh
- Green sunfishfresh
- Warmouthfresh
- Flierfresh
Places to fish near Yellow perch, pictured
Photo: Matt Tillett from Cumberland, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
Photo: Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 4.0
Worth knowing about yellow perch
Which rules govern keeping yellow perch?
no creel limit (All inland and joint fishing waters), size no size limit.
Which water gave up the record yellow perch?
2 lbs, 9 oz from Indiantown Creek (1990).
Which waters produce yellow perch?
2 waters on this site, including Lake Phelps and Lake Waccamaw.
Does NCWRC stock yellow perch?
Not on this year’s list.
How do I tell yellow perch apart?
Scientific name Perca flavescens.
Can yellow perch be kept this month?
No closed season
What license do yellow perch anglers buy?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Which captains list yellow perch?
None list it by name; see the guides page.
Seek out yellow perch
Pick a water from the lists on this page.