November 20th, 2024
Welcome back to the District Fishing Report! After a warm start to fall, the weather is finally beginning to feel more seasonal. The sporadic temperatures in October and the beginning of November made fishing patterns tricky to figure out, but we are finally seeing a more consistent weather pattern develop. Water temperatures are steadily declining, and fish are beginning to vacate the shallow waters of the tidal rivers in the district. Bite windows will be more dependent on tidal movement this time of year and there are several online resources that show the tidal predictions for the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. We recommend checking the predictions and planning your fishing trips around them. Typically, the last three hours of the outgoing and first three hours of the incoming tide are best, but a moving tide is what to aim for. Many fish will start to congregate around areas with warmer water like the Blue Plains Advanced Water Treatment Plant. Blue catfish, one of our more abundant species in the rivers, will begin to head for deeper water along ledges. Now let’s get into the report and discuss the late fall and early winter fishing patterns in more detail.
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Angler Devon Addison shows off a striped bass he caught while night fishing in the vicinity of the Washington Channel and Tidal Basin.
Now that water temperatures have dropped into the mid 50s in the rivers, fish will start to congregate around warm water discharges around the district. The Blue Plains discharge is one of the more well-known locations for fall and winter fishing. Species like largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, crappie, and several others can be caught in the area thanks to the warmer water being pumped out from the plant. A boat is needed to access this site, but if you can get there, fishing around the concrete dock and in Oxon Cove can be very productive. Bass will take a liking for crankbaits and spinnerbaits throughout the colder months. You will want to slow down your retrieval when reeling in your lure as the fish will start to become lethargic with the cooler temperatures. Crankbaits that dive between five and 10 feet will be effective while fishing around the discharge. You can also fish with jigs paired with soft plastics, bouncing them along the bottom slowly to entice a bite. Fishing with live bait can also be very effective during the colder months, especially for crappie. Minnows fished under bobbers, on jigheads, or on a drop shot rig will often get fish to bite. Another location that has warm water influence is Four Mile Run, located just south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The D.C. water boundary includes the cove up to the George Washington Memorial Parkway Bridge, so if you fish west of the bridge, you will need a Virginia fishing license. This location is another good area to find largemouth bass, blue catfish, and crappie. As water temperatures continue to get colder, more fish will school in these areas to seek out more comfortable water. The various bridges around our waters are holding a lot of fish as they provide good structure for them to hang around. Angler Devon Addison was out this week and reported a good bite while night fishing. He and another angler caught a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass. The lights shining into the water from bridges and buildings often attract fish and those areas seem to be producing a solid bite right now. There are a few United States Geological Survey sites in D.C. that give real time water data including water level, temperature, turbidity, and several other environmental factors. They are a great resource to see what current river conditions are before heading out on the water.
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Angler Joseph Coble holds up a massive 49-pound blue catfish he caught while fishing in the D.C. section of the Potomac River.
The big news around the district is that the bite is turning on for big blue catfish. Several anglers have been finding success for these river monsters, and you don't have to fish from a boat to catch them. The district has plenty of shore fishing locations that can produce big fish, and the colder months are often the best time to catch them. This includes Anacostia Park, Diamond Teague Park, Hains Point, and Fletchers Cove. If you are fishing from a boat, the stretch of river from Georgetown up to Chain Bridge is an excellent area to fish during the colder months, with a hotspot around Three Sisters Island. The river channel is very deep through that zone and the catfish are beginning to move into deeper depths as water temperatures drop. The fish are in a steady feeding pattern as they look to build up their body reserves before winter. Fresh cut eel is one of the top baits for catfish in the district. Other productive baits include gizzard shad and chicken, though any meaty substance can work to get the fish biting. Blue catfish are an invasive species in our waters, and we encourage anglers to remove them when they catch them. If you are wondering if you can eat them, the answer is yes. The current consumption advisory for the consumption of fish caught in our rivers recommends a limit of three eight-ounce servings per month. This is a general suggestion, and anglers should use their own discretion when catching and eating fish. Angler Joseph Coble was fishing from his boat on the Potomac last weekend and landed a huge blue catfish weighing over 49 pounds. The fish measured 43.5 inches and qualified for a trophy fish award. Another angler fishing in Anacostia Park also reported a hot bite for big blues last weekend, catching a few in the 20-pound range. Blue catfish in our waters can range from a pound up to over 80 pounds, and there is always a chance to hook into a big one. Fishermen should note that D.C. fishing regulations allow individual anglers to fish with a maximum of three rods at once. Now is the time to hit the water if you want a chance to catch a big fish. The bite should remain good through the end of the month and into December, but once we get into the heart of winter, fishing can be slow. Don’t miss out on these great angling opportunities.
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DOEE fisheries biologists collecting biometric data from fish caught during a general electrofishing survey on the Anacostia River.
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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