Choptank River — Cambridge, Dorchester County, MD
Yellow Perch fishing today
Workable day for Yellow Perch.
68/100
Why today scores 68
- 63°F water — Inside Yellow Perch's active range
- outgoing tide — Yellow Perch prefers slack tide
- 10 mph wind — Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Right now at Choptank River — Cambridge
- Water temp
- 63°F
- Air temp
- 78°F
- Wind
- 5 to 10 mph NW
- Tide phase
- outgoing
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:18 AM / 7:46 PM
- Moon
- first quarter, 33% illuminated
- Solunar windows today
- 12:40 AM - 1:40 AM · 4:40 AM - 6:40 AM · 9:50 AM - 10:50 AM · 5:10 PM - 7:10 PM
- Forecast
- Sunny
About Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens. Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.
Preferred water temp: 45–70°F (ideal 58°F). Preferred tide: slack.
MD regulations
- Minimum size
- 9"
- Daily creel limit
- 5
Chesapeake Bay tidal waters: 9-inch minimum, 5 per day, open year-round. Some tributaries have historically had emergency closures during the spring spawn — check the MDDNR site annually before the February–March run.
Source: MD regulations. Last verified: 2026-04-22.