perch size limit

Just a friendly reminder that the size limit for perch in the bay is 7".

I thought this was common knowledge, but after yesterday I have doubts. I was coming off the ice with my 5 year old daughter with a dozen in the bucket, all over 9". This really nice old timer offered us the four fish he kept(out of the 30 he said he caught). I thought it was a nice gesture, so I accepted. I didn't really get a good look at his fish until I got home. Two were just barely legal and two were not. One was under 5.5"

Personally I only keep them if there around 9" or so. The little ones end up being more breading than fish. I'm just glad the fish commission wasn't in the parking lot that day. Lesson learned, always look at the fish before accepting.

Be safe on the ice... and take a tape measure.

I was out again yesterday with nearly the same results(13 fish 9" or better). I was using a medium size minnow head jig with a shiner. I was fishing out in the middle and never let that jig sit still. It seemed like the constant motion and the larger jig kept the little ones from getting a good bite. Every time I stopped jigging to get a drink or lite a smoke I seemed to hook a small one.