Fishing is a sport that builds patience, strength and balance, and enables a closer relationship with the natural world. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, making it a great family activity. Although there are no lakes in Washington D.C., the Potomac River and Rock Creek offer excellent fishing opportunities for bass, crappie, panfish and catfish.
Potomac River
The Potomac River runs along the border between Virginia and the District of Columbia, and continues on between Virginia and Maryland. The Potomac is populated with large-mouth and striped bass, which are some of the most sought-after game fish among anglers. Bass will be found in areas with little current and plenty of cover. Other fish in the Potomac include panfish such as bluegill, crappie and catfish.
Rock Creek
Rock Creek is located in the upper corner of Virginia and offers excellent fishing for bass, catfish, crappie--also known as perch--and bluegill. Fishing is allowed in Rock Creek south of the Porter Street Bridge, and noncommercial fishing is permitted within Rock Creek National Park, which is known as the gem of the District of Columbia for its beauty, which features old-growth and tulip trees.
Chesapeake Bay
For a wider variety of species and fishing options, Chesapeake Bay is less than an hour's drive from the District of Columbia, and is famous for striper fishing. Striped bass populate Chesapeake Bay primarily in the summer when it is warm, but some excellent bass fishing can be had in the Chesapeake's shallow waters during the fall months when they begin to migrate. Other fishing in the Bay includes trout, flounder, Spanish mackerel, croaker, black drum, red drum and cobia.
Guides
Guides specific to Washington D.C. are essentially nonexistent, but guides along the greater Potomac and Chesapeake Bay abound. Indian Head Charters, for example, leads customized fishing trips on the Chesapeake Bay as well as from four Potomac marinas. Crabbe's Charter Fishing specializes in charters from the Chesapeake Bay through the lower Potomac River, and, in winter, Atlantic Ocean fishing on a 43-foot boat for up to 26 passengers. Crabbe's fishing excursions provide fishing gear, bait and licenses, and will clean and ice your fish for the ride home.
Licenses and Regulations
Within the District of Columbia, fishing licenses are required for anglers age 16 and older, except on weekend days on either end of National Fishing and Boating Week in June. Striped bass season opens May 16 and runs through December 31. Anglers are limited to two stripers per day, which must be 18 inches minimum in length. Only one of the two fish may be longer than 28 inches.
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