document.getElementById( "ak_js_59" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); my favorite parts of the upper potomac are great falls, harpersferry to sharpsburg, and dam 5 clear spring but harpersferry area has to be the best part of the upper potomac with a huge smallmouth bass fishery, walleyes and channel cats. I need to be as close as possible my kayak weighs 110 lbs. Smallmouths get their name from their mouth that extends just to the midpoint of their eye. I spend most of my time around Great Falls and Loudon County though. Anita. Maybe the most well-known river to find the snakehead is Potomac River, which runs through both Virginias, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Snakehead fish can also be found in saltwater, though . There are two fishing piers from which you can target Catfish, Bass, and lots more. Catfishing on the Potomac is popular in deeper parts of the river or in areas with bottom structures. Lets ta. These sunfish average about 4 inches long and will weigh less than a pound. Jones Point Park: Just north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and south of Old Town. Are Potomac River fish safe to eat? For complete and detailed information about fish consumption advisories, please refer to your local or state health department website. Efforts have been made to clean up the Potomac River, but it's still not safe to swim or eat many of the fish from the river due to pollution. You can also check out Oxon Creek, just North of the bridge. Blue catfish generally range between 23 59 inches in length, and have an average weight of around 5 pounds; however, a record-breaking blue catfish was recently caught in the Mississippi River that weighed in at an astonishing 131 pounds! It features almost 1,000 miles of shoreline, scenic lake islands thatll take your breath away, and lots of other natural beauty to feast your eyes on. document.getElementById( "ak_js_49" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I live near loudoun county va on the maryland side, right across the bridge in one of the pics above. VA, MD, and Potomac licenses are valid in portions of the river where the two states share their border. Just keep the meals of catfish down to every other month at most. Planning a trip here is very convenient with plenty of places where you can rent equipment and small boats for the day. document.getElementById( "ak_js_51" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im a beginner looking for shore fishing sites near the WW bridge and advice on gear/tackle to be successful. Longear sunfish also have a blue streak on the top of their mouths that other panfish do not have. Big name sponsors such as Bassmaster and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) host annual competitions here, attracting hundreds of Bass fishermen from all over the country. document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Youre absolutely right. At night, pumpkinseeds will rest near the bottom of the river or in vegetation, so they will not be spotted by predators. Muskellunge, more commonly known as muskies, can be found in the lower Potomac River in areas where the water is very clear and slow-moving. Blue Catfish, the largest of the three, typically average between 2040 pounds, with some monsters even weighing in at 50 pounds! Youll want to use live bait, such as herring or mullet, when going after this beast. This species ranges from 12 18 inches in length and weighs around 1 4 pounds. I dont have any photographs to share with you at this time, but there have been sightings in the area. We got some great fly fishing spots all throughout the region. Dove, 35, doesn't fish deep in May. By contrast, at least half of the water bodies in Virginia's James, Rappahannock and York watersheds were in the . document.getElementById( "ak_js_56" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi Santiago, thanks for reading! Its been awhile for me, but I thinking of venturing out myself based upon what you provided. They were introduced to several rivers on Virginia's Western Shore decades ago. Size: One of the largest catfish species found in North America and can weigh near 60 pounds. Research has shown them to like blue gill/sunfish and killifish (look kind of like minnows). If you have enough time, I recommend heading to Pohick Bay on the VA side, as well as Mattawoman Creek in MD. Any luck? Is Anacostia Park Boat Ramp a good choice? This species is the smallest type of catfish in North America, and they range from 12 13 inches long. Can you fish in Parramatta River? In this column, I will focus on how to fish the Potomac River as well as whether you should eat the fish or fling them back. . Ive only taken it to the local water down the street from me, and am looking for options to trek a bit further to get into some good largemouth territory on a week day. The Potomac River has two branches, the North Branch and South Branch, that eventually merge into one river. [The Facts], 10 Best Potted Plants for Texas Heat 2023 [Updated], List of Fish Species in Becharof Lake 2023 (ID + Pics), List of Turtle Species in Washington State 2023 (ID + Pics), How to Plant & Grow White Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcensis). These are mainly Eel, Striped Bass (Rockfish), and Carp. 3. . DOVE'S DO'S AND DON'TS. They can grow up to 50 inches in length. Congrats on the new boat, thats exciting! Good luck out there! '. . Generally, rockfish are the larger fish in the Potomac River, so any large fish is likely a rockfish. Breeding males will develop bright red upper bellies, which is why they are called redbreast sunfish. Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Youll come across honey holes, channels, creeks, and bridge pilings scattered along the entire river from the Upper Potomac all the way down to the Chesapeake Bay. Below is a section on cleaning and cooking your fish, which will help reduce contamination levels . You should check out as many of these as possible: 1. The guide collects fish consumption advisories from the states of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia that focus on fish caught in the Potomac River and its tributaries. Have you checked out Fletchers Cove yet? Although famous for producing lots of 10- to 14-inch smallmouths, some areas do hold trophy fish. I hear you. 1. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact | About, List of Common Potomac River Fish Species [Updated], Potomac River Pollution & Conservation Efforts, List of Fish Species in the Potomac River, 7) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), 10) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), 13) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 14) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), 9 Best Plants That Repel Slugs 2023 [Plants Slugs Hate], List of Prehistoric Fish Still Alive Today [Updated], Why Cant Freshwater Fish Live in Saltwater? All in all, this is a great way to experience the nations capital while enjoying a fun day of fishing with the family. In terms of lures, I love using crankbaits. Also, for Largemouth, stick to the lower regions of the Potomac. I've enjoyed rocks and smaller pan fish from the Chesapeake (fishing mostly from boat). document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for reaching out. Transporting them live isnt allowed either, so keep that in mind. The contaminants that most often lead to a health advisory in the Potomac watershed are PCBs and mercury, which build up in the fatty tissues of fish and other animals, and in high concentrations pose serious health risks to people who frequently eat contaminated fish. Since youll probably be targeting lots of Smallmouth, youll want to have lures handy, such as jigs. You can use slip-sinker rigs with floaters. Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed the article! Great blue herons are an extremely common sight along the Potomac River. Aug 27, 2020. If you catch and want to keep a northern snakehead in Maryland, you are required to kill it. Then you have to look at what they like to eat. Spin, drift, fly fish it all works. Sea nettles are starting to . If youre in search ofsome locally sourced fish, be selective about what you choose to consume from the Potomac River. Report back and let us know how the trip went! You can launch from Great Falls or Algonkian Park. Consuming fish from the southern end of the river, towards Fort Washington, is probably safer than from somewhere in DC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. document.getElementById( "ak_js_25" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey Mike, They are not picky eaters, and will consume smaller fish, crustaceans, mussels, and frogs. These fish also have 6 9 black stripes that run horizontally across the body. Crayfish, Devil (Cambarus diogenes) Devil Crayfish resemble lobsters. Walleye can be found in the upper Potomac River starting in Cumberland, Maryland down to Washington D.C. in waters that are slower moving and cooler. Thanks for the good work! document.getElementById( "ak_js_41" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for the helpful reply. Feb 8, 2021. Some of the go-to techniques when targeting Snakehead include fly fishing, throwing surface lures, and even bowfishing. Deforestation for timber and farmland was also destroying many habitats along the river. From here, youll be able to target lots of the same species as on the Maryland side. This portion of the river holds a huge variety of fish. Key Bridge Boathouse, In terms of fishing licenses, since youll be fishing above the 301 bridge, youll need one of the following: This is also a great place to go hiking, check out the waterfalls, and experience some of the Potomacs amazing wildlife. The section of the Shenandoah which will be discussed is the 35 miles of river that lies within the state of Virginia. Reporting a Fish Kill. Where on the Potomac might you recommend I try on my first trip? I am moving out to Springfield, VA this month coming from Colorado. Some of the main techniques in the area include spinning and drift fishing. They nest and breed in colonies called rookeries (typically in trees but sometimes in low shrubs or on the ground in the absence of predators). function ml_webform_success_5437724(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-5437724 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-5437724 .row-form").hide()}. document.getElementById( "ak_js_54" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey Erik, thanks for reading! Just keep in mind, theres probably a small fee. Phelps saw this happen in the tidal Potomac . The main target species here are Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, and Catfish. "It's my favorite local . I was fishing at East Potomac Park yesterday (across the river from the Wharf) with Power Bait balls that I had, and didnt have any luck. document.getElementById( "ak_js_57" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a great article, but is lacking any information on the upper Potomac. You can also click here for more information. Can you fish in Parramatta River? document.getElementById( "ak_js_29" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi Steve, Blue catfish are considered an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay. document.getElementById( "ak_js_28" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Ive fished the upper Potomac, between Snyders Landing and Taylors Landing, for over 40 years. But there are still ways to ensure you have a safe and fun day on the river. Yelp/Gary K. Yelp/Sea Catch Restaurant. I live in Dover de. August 7, 2022. Bait, tackle, and fuel are usually included in the price, making it even easier to plan your trip and focus on the fun stuff. Some monsters even can you eat fish from the potomac river in at 50 pounds 12 13 inches long earn qualifying! ; ve enjoyed rocks and smaller pan fish from the Potomac two branches, the largest species..., rockfish are the larger fish in the area kill it the Shenandoah which will be is. 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