Yellow perch in Utah
Yellow perch: the 2027 and 2026 Utah limits, guidebook water entries, DWR record rows and the waters Fish Utah lists it on.
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Yellow perch in Utah, at a glance
DWR files yellow perch under "Yellow perch" in the 2027 statewide table, a daily limit of 50. Both the 2026 guidebook (through December 31, 2026) and the 2027 one print it alike.
Across 21 pages here, DWR includes it on the species list, and 13 carry the likely label. Big Sand Wash Reservoir is one of 5 special-water entries that mention it. The DWR record tables carry it 4 times.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
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| Statewide row | 2027 daily | 2026 daily | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | 50 | same |
The limits here are from the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which takes effect January 1, 2027; the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook stays in force through December 31, 2026 and differs only where a row says so.
Possession means two daily limits, except at Flaming Gorge, where one daily limit is the most anyone may hold.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-19), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Where the yellow perch limit changes in Utah
| Water as printed | County | Rule lines | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sand Wash Reservoir | Duchesne County | Limit 10 yellow perch and 20 walleye (no size restrictions). | both editions |
| Fish Lake | Sevier County | No limit on yellow perch | both editions |
| Red Fleet Reservoir | Uintah County | Limit 50 bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch (a combined total) and no more than 20 of those fish may be black crappie. | both editions |
| Starvation Reservoir | Duchesne County | Limit 10 bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie and yellow perch (a combined total). | NEW 2027 |
| Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel | Box Elder County | Limit 15 yellow perch. | NEW 2027 |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 35-58 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Biggest Utah yellow perch on file
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch and keep (by weight) | 2 lbs. 11 oz. | 15 ⅛" | Yuba Reservoir | 1984 | |
| Catch and release (by length) | – | 15 ¼" | Yuba Reservoir | 2000 | |
| Spearfishing | 15 oz. | 12" | Deer Creek Reservoir | 2023 | |
| Setline | 7.5 oz. | 10 ½" | Yuba Reservoir | 2026 |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Choosing Utah water for yellow perch
Likely, possible and unlikely are DWR words from Fish Utah; stocked flags a recent planting row.
- Jordanelle ReservoirDWR: likely; Wasatch County
- Starvation ReservoirDWR: likely; Duchesne County
- Fish LakeDWR: likely; Sevier County
- Pineview ReservoirDWR: likely; Weber County
- Echo ReservoirDWR: likely; Summit County
- Rockport ReservoirDWR: likely; Summit County
- Johnson ReservoirDWR: likely; Sevier County
- Mantua ReservoirDWR: likely; Box Elder County
- Red Fleet ReservoirDWR: likely; Uintah County
- Hyrum ReservoirDWR: likely; Cache County
- Newton ReservoirDWR: likely; Cache County
- Big Sand WashDWR: likely; Duchesne County
- Gunnison Bend and DMAD ReservoirsDWR: likely; Millard County
- Utah LakeDWR: possible; Utah County
- Willard Bay ReservoirDWR: possible; Box Elder County
- Deer Creek ReservoirDWR: possible; Wasatch County
- Mill Meadow ReservoirDWR: possible; Wayne County
- Farmington PondDWR: possible; Davis County
- Brough ReservoirDWR: possible; Uintah County
- Yuba Reservoir & State ParkDWR: possible; Sanpete County
- Forsyth ReservoirDWR: invasive species; Sevier County
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Photo of Jordanelle Reservoir: sf-dvs, CC BY 2.0
Chasing Yellow perch across Utah, answered
Is there a statewide limit on yellow perch in Utah?
DWR files yellow perch under "Yellow perch" in the 2027 statewide table, a daily limit of 50. Both the 2026 guidebook (through December 31, 2026) and the 2027 one print it alike.
Is the yellow perch limit the same on every Utah water?
Big Sand Wash Reservoir is one of 5 special-water entries that mention it.
What is the Utah state record yellow perch?
catch and keep (by weight): 2 lbs. 11 oz., from Yuba Reservoir, 1984.
Where do yellow perch show up on DWR lists?
The 21 DWR-listed pages open with Jordanelle Reservoir, Starvation Reservoir and Fish Lake.
Is harvest of yellow perch allowed in Utah?
It is not on the must-release list; the statewide line and any water entry apply.
Which Utah license covers yellow perch?
Anglers 12 and older need a Utah fishing license; both the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks print $40 for a resident 365-day adult license and $120 for a nonresident.
Where do I submit a Utah yellow perch record?
Use the DWR records page; it covers kept fish, released fish by length, spearfishing, setline and archery.
Can I keep two days of yellow perch in Utah?
Possession is two daily limits statewide and one at Flaming Gorge.