July 12th, 2024
Welcome back to the District Fishing Report! This month has been nothing short of scorching hot and we are officially in the dog days of summer. The mid-summer fishing lulls have also set in and anglers across the board are reporting an overall slow bite, though there are certain bite windows that can lead to productive outings. Fishing has been best in the low light hours of the mornings or evenings, and throughout the night once temperatures have cooled off. The rivers are running very low due to the drought, but we are finally receiving some much-needed rain. Though it’s a start, it will take a lot more to get us out of drought conditions. Now let's cover the latest reports from anglers and talk about how to have a successful trip this time of year.
Angler Von Yamson shows off an invasive flathead catfish he caught while fishing in the vicinity of Chain Bridge.
Catfish anglers are reporting a slow bite on most days, but with enough time and patience, they are still landing some fish. An angler fishing during an afternoon at Hains Point reported catching six blue catfish over the course of a few hours. All the fish were on the smaller side and were caught using fresh cut baitfish. Other locations where blue catfish are being caught include Diamon Teague Park, Navy Yard, Anacostia Park, and near Fletcher’s Cove. Planning your trips from sunrise to 10am and from 5pm to sunset will usually offer the best bite, as fish have been loafing during the day and feeding once the temperatures begin to cool off. Night fishing has also been better, as fish are moving into shallower water to feed once the sun goes down. Baits such as eel, chicken, white perch, and gizzard shad have been working well to get these invasive fish to bite, but they can be caught on just about any type of meaty bait. Boat anglers who are able to get out in the river and fish in deeper water and ledges seem to be catching bigger fish. One boat reported catching a 20-pound and 40-pound fish near an unspecified bridge and another boat caught a 35-pound blue cat just below Hains Point. Spawning activity for blue catfish is wrapping up, so the big fish are becoming more willing to bite again. As always, we recommend anglers remove these invasive species from our waters as they cause ecological harm to our native species.
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Angler Jacob Chu holds up an invasive blue catfish he caught while fishing in the vicinity of Chain Bridge.
One of the lesser-known species that can be caught in the DC portion of the tidal Potomac River is walleye. These fish are quite elusive and difficult to locate, but they grow big and fight hard. Many of the walleye that are caught by anglers in DC are in the two-to-five-pound range, with some growing even bigger than that. We spoke with local angler Sean Gonketchum for some tips on catching walleye this time of year. Sean says that half ounce jigs with soft plastic flukes work great. The color of the bait will depend on the water clarity. White baits work well in muddy water, while clear or translucent baits work well when the water is clean. The fish can be found in the 10-to-20-foot range where there are rocky and sandy transitions along the bottom. Walleye will stack up behind channel edges during the tide swings and can offer a lot of action when you locate them. Crankbaits work well for covering lots of water while searching for fish. Sean says when he catches one on a crankbait, he will switch to a jig and work the whole area thoroughly. He has had days with double-digit catches of walleye on recent trips, along with other fish including several large blue catfish and even a big grass carp. Grass carp are invasive to our waters and should be removed if caught.
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Angler Sean Gonketchum shows off a huge grass carp he caught while casting a crankbait.
Largemouth bass are another popular target for DC anglers this time of year. Bass will be feeding primarily during low light hours and will be loafing during the day. Fish can still be caught while the sun is high, but you should focus your efforts in shaded areas along shorelines with overhanging vegetation, bridge pilings, and around docks or marinas. The docks inside the Washington Channel have been a productive area for bass anglers lately, with fish seeking cover from the sun in the shade and ambushing baitfish as they swim by. Local Angler Devon Addison, who currently holds the DC record for largemouth bass, has been finding the best fishing at night. Devon says that the bass fishing bite at night is significantly better than during the day. He recommends fishing near structures and any areas with lights shining down into the water either from buildings or docks seem to be holding fish. A recent outing produced several largemouth bass up to five pounds and a few striped bass. The fish are biting on custom-made crankbaits and glide baits. We are all trying to beat the heat, fish and anglers included. Make sure to stay hydrated and limit time outside when it is excessively hot. We hope you all will make the most of summer and hit the water to enjoy our home waters of DC. Good luck on your next fishing trip!
The full set of regulated fishing activities for The District can be found on the Regulated Fishing Activities webpage. If you would like to buy a fishing license, please visit the Get a Fishing License webpage. Fishing licenses are sold on a calendar year basis. Anglers under the age of 16, or age 65 and older are not required to buy a fishing license to fish in The District. Washington D.C. has a Recreational Angling Records Program that allows anglers to check in eligible fish caught in D.C. waters for record fish awards and trophy fish awards. There are 29 different eligible species, and many categories currently have vacancies, so we encourage D.C. anglers to check in their fish. The full set of rules for the records program can be found on the Recreational Angling Records Program webpage. If you would like to submit information for the report, please email dillon.waters@dc.gov. If you would like to submit a photo to be included in the report, please send an email with photo attachments to fishandwildlife.photos@dc.gov. Tight lines everyone! 🎣
Volunteer Angler Creel Survey
The Department of Energy and Environment’s Fisheries Research Branch is conducting it’s annual creel survey and encourages local anglers to participate. The goal of the survey is to better understand recreational angling efforts, perceptions, and harvests within Washington D.C. The information obtained from the survey will be used to inform fisheries management decisions and regulations. To make it easier for anglers to participate, a QR code has been developed. To access the survey, just scan the QR code using the built-in camera on your mobile device and tap the banner that appears. Already reading this on your phone? Click here. The survey is voluntary, but we encourage anglers to fill out the form after every fishing trip. Good luck fishing and let us know how you do! |
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