October 30th, 2024
Welcome back to the District Fishing Report! The days are getting shorter, leaves are falling, and we are about to celebrate Halloween. These are all telltale signs that fall is here. As the season changes, so will fish behavior, which means that anglers will need to adjust their tactics. Most of our gamefish species are becoming more active as water temperatures are dropping due to diminishing daylight. This is good news as fish are usually more willing to feed throughout the day instead of during short windows. If there is one factor that determines where our larger predatory fish will be this time of year, it is the presence of baitfish. The formula usually goes, find the bait, find the fish. Another very important factor for catching fish is the tide. Typically, the two hours before high tide and the two hours after high tide are best for fishing, but the most important factor when it comes to tides is moving water. Fish will be actively seeking out baitfish that are being carried by tidal currents when the tide is running. Keep both variables in mind when fishing and don't put away the fishing gear just because temperatures are getting colder. Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year, but it can also be challenging. Figuring out the pattern is part of the fun, however, and when you do figure it out, it feels almost as good as a Commanders Hail Mary to win the game.
DOEE Aquatic Resources Education staff hosted a fishing event at Kingman Island Friends and Family Day on October 19th. The weather was beautiful and there was a great turnout on the island. The fishing station took place on the dock connecting Kingman and Heritage Islands overlooking Kingman Lake. Fishing was on the slower side, but participants did catch a handful of largemouth bass and sunfish. The waters in and around the islands are relatively shallow, and the cooler temperatures are likely to have many of our species moving to deeper water where they will spend most of their time throughout the next few months. Largemouth bass and sunfish such as bluegill, pumpkinseed, and red breast sunfish will still be found close to structures, just at slightly deeper depths. The range of 5 to 15 feet of water will be a good zone to target them right now. Fallen trees, sunken wood, docks, bridge pilings, and marinas should all be holding fish. Popular lures to throw for bass in the fall include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and swimbaits that are in the three-to-five-inch range, which are a good imitation of the baitfish found in our waters right now. Bass hotspots around the district include the Washington Channel, Oxon Cove, Blue Plains Advanced Water Treatment Plant, Pentagon Lagoon, and the Tidal Basin. Sunfish and crappie can also be caught in these areas but should be targeted with slightly different gear. Small artificial soft plastics on jigheads ranging from 1/16 ounce to ¼ ounce work well. Anglers should jig them close to structure and try varying depths to find where the fish are suspended. If artificial lures aren't working, you can always use live bait. Nightcrawlers and other worms are very effective at catching fish. Hook sizes ranging from 14 to 6 work best for smaller fish. Tie a bobber a few feet above your hook and cast it out along shorelines or any of the previously mentioned structures for a good chance at getting a bite.
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An angler fishing at Kingman Friends and Family Day shows off a largemouth bass he caught in Kingman Lake.
The catfish bite throughout the Potomac and Anacostia is getting better as temperatures cool down. The big fish have also been more prevalent and willing to bite. We have heard from several anglers over the past few weeks that are getting in on the action. Angler Joseph Coble was fishing on his boat just north of the Key Bridge last week and reported an excellent night bite for big catfish. He caught several blue catfish that weighed between 20 and 30 pounds along with a monster weighing just over 40 pounds. Coble also caught a good-sized flathead during the trip. The section of river from Georgetown up to Chain Bridge is known for holding big fish and now through the spring is one of the best times of year to target them. Though this is typically where the big fish congregate, blue catfish can be caught throughout district waters and there are several land-based fishing locations to catch them from. Anacostia Park, Hains Point, Diamond Teague Park, the Tidal Basin, and Fletchers Cove are just a few of the popular places to catch catfish from shore. A bottom rig or fish finder rig baited with a variety of cut bait such as bunker or chicken work well, but the best bait in the D.C. region seems to be fresh American eel. As water temperatures continue to drop, catfish will move to deeper waters where they will school in deeper holes and channels. Depths of 15 to 40 feet of water are good places to search. The waters around the Blue Plains Advanced Water Treatment Plant can also be productive for catfish anglers. The warm water discharge attracts baitfish and other gamefish that catfish like to prey on. There is no shortage of blue catfish in our waters, so no matter where you are fishing, there is a good chance to hook into our most abundant invasive species.
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Angler Joseph Coble shows off a huge blue catfish he caught north of the Key Bridge on the Potomac River.
The abundance of baitfish in our waters right now is attracting many popular gamefish species to feed on them. Anglers are reporting that the Tidal Basin and areas along the Hains Point seawall have been full of baitfish. Most schools of bait are juvenile Atlantic menhaden, a favorite of striped bass, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. We typically see a push of striped bass into our waters this time of year as they are looking to feed heavily before the cold winter months set in. These fish are scattered around our waters, so it may take some time before finding one willing to bite, though the tidal basin is one of the more productive locations in the district for striped bass in the fall. They can also be found along shorelines with riprap, inlet channels, and around bridges. Topwater lures can be productive during low light hours, especially along seawalls. As the sun gets up, small two-to-three-inch shallow diving crankbaits will be good options. Spinnerbaits and soft plastic swimbaits are great attractor baits that can entice a reactionary bite from nearby fish. D.C. has a very diverse fishery with numerous angling opportunities for anglers to enjoy throughout the year. Just because the weather is cooling off doesn't mean you should hang up the gear for the year. Fish will stay very active through the month of November, and we encourage you to keep fishing before winter sets in. Thank you for fishing in the district and good luck on your next outing!
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! 🎣
Upcoming Events
Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest
DOEE is collaborating with Wildlife Forever to announce the opening of the 2024-25 Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest. The contest is open for submissions until February 28th, 2025 and is open to all District residents between the ages of 5-18. For more information, visit the Fish Art website of go to doee.dc.gov/service/fish-art-contest. For questions, please email doee.arec@dc.gov
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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