OHIO — The angler daily harvest limits for Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch this year remain unchanged through April 30, 2027, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced.
What You Need To Know
For walleye, it’ll be six fish per day
For yellow perch, it depends on the zone
Angler harvest rates for walleye set a record last year
ODNR added that while yellow perch populations are struggling in most areas of the lake, there’s a stable population in the west zone to provide good fishing.
Ohio’s Lake Erie Angler Daily Limits (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027):
Walleye: six fish per day, 15-inch minimum length requirement
Yellow perch, west zone (approximately Toledo to Huron): 30 fish per day
Yellow Perch, central zone (approximately Huron to Fairport Harbor): 10 fish per day
Yellow Perch, east zone (approximately Fairport Harbor to Conneaut): 20 fish per day
Angler harvest rates for walleye set a record last year, and ODNR said fishing is expected to be “exceptional” this year.
As for yellow perch, it depends on the season and region. This year, the best fishing is expected to be in July and August in the west zone. Ohio’s central and east zones have been experiencing low catch rates. In those zones, anglers’ best bet to catch some yellow perch will be in the late fall, ODNR said.