New York State Record Yellow Perch: 3 lb 8 oz
The New York state record yellow perch weighed 3 lb 8 oz. It was caught in 1982 from Lake Erie in Erie County by George Boice, and the New York DEC still recognizes it as the state mark 44 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Erie in Erie County. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the New York lakes we do grade instead.
Yellow Perch records by state
New York ranks 2 of 11 among the states in our index for record yellow perch. Michigan holds the heaviest at 3 lb 12 oz, set in 1947.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 3 lb 12 oz | 1947 | Lake Independence |
| 2 | New York (this page) | 3 lb 8 oz | 1982 | Lake Erie |
| 3 | Minnesota | 3 lb 4 oz | 1945 | Lake Plantaganette |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 3 lb 4 oz | 1954 | Lake Winnebago |
| 5 | Indiana | 3 lb 2 oz | 2024 | Lake Michigan |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 3 lb | 2021 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | North Dakota | 3 lb | 2026 | Devils Lake |
| 8 | Ohio | 2 lb 14 oz | 2016 | Lake Erie |
| 9 | Iowa | 2 lb 13 oz | 2019 | Private pond |
| 10 | South Dakota | 2 lb 13 oz | 2015 | Bitter Lake |
| 11 | Illinois | 2 lb 8 oz | 1974 | Arrowhead Club Lake |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside New York
18 of New York's 20 standing records are heavier than the 3 lb 8 oz yellow perch — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 2 New York records have stood longer, the yellow perch mark dating to 1982.