The Potomac River is home to a diverse range of fish species
. To assess overall fish health, we include historical data on common game fish including American shad, smallmouth bass, white perch, and striped bass.
Is Potomac River good for fishing?
The tidal Potomac River offers some of the finest fishing, crabbing and shellfishing on the Atlantic coast
. The estuary runs from the tidal fresh waters of Washington, DC to the mid-range salinities of the Chesapeake Bay at Point Lookout, Maryland and Smith Point, Virginia.
Are there sharks in the Potomac River?
TRICK:
Yes, their are sharks in the Potomac River
! As their name suggests, bull sharks are big and quite aggressive. Just last year, a fisherman caught a 310-pound, 8.6 foot long bull in the river. Bull sharks are unique in that, though they live mostly in saltwater, they can tolerate freshwater.
What lives in the Potomac River?
- Bald Eagles. Photo courtesy of Richard Orr. …
- American Shad. BOB BISHOP HOLDING AN AMERICAN SHAD CAUGHT IN THE POTOMAC AT FLETCHER'S COVE. …
- Seahorses. Seahorses? …
- Blue Crabs. …
- Beavers. …
- Ravens. …
- Horseshoe crabs.
How deep is the Potomac River?
The river is about 11 miles wide be- tween Point Lookout and Smith Point. Upstream, from Great Falls to Harpers Fer- ry, it averages about 1,300 feet in width. The deepest point near Morgantown, Md., in the tidal portion of the river below Wash- ington, D.C., is
107 feet
.
What big fish are in the Potomac River?
Blue Catfish
, the largest of the three, typically average between 20–40 pounds, with some monsters even weighing in at 50 pounds! You can also catch Longnose Gar, Snakehead, Shad, Walleye, Carp, and Chain Pickerel.
Do you need a license to fish in the Potomac River?
Below the 301 Bridge – you are required to have one of the following:
Potomac River Fisheries Sport Fishing License, or
.
Virginia Saltwater Recreational License, or
.
Maryland Bay (Tidal) Sport Fishing License
.
How do you catch the blue catfish in the Potomac River?
Can you catch cobia in the Potomac River?
Yes, there's a huge range of other species area angles can target. But we're calling out
Smith Point as one of the northernmost areas you can consistently target cobia
.
Are there alligators in the Potomac River?
A population of alligators in the Potomac River in D.C. would not be particularly surprising under those circumstances
. Again, not to minimize the personal suffering of families affected by deaths from alligators, but wild alligators injure fewer humans in a decade than dogs, cats and horses do in a week.
Is it safe to swim in the Potomac River?
Yes, you can swim in the Potomac River
, but would you and should you? On the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Clean Water Act, advocates say the Potomac is now clean enough for safe swimming much of the time.
Why is it illegal to swim in the Potomac River?
“This this is one of the only cities in the United States that it's illegal to swim because of
raw sewage in the waterways
,” said Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks.
Why is the Potomac River so dirty?
Every inch of the District's 45 miles of Potomac watershed streams and rivers is so tainted with
bacteria from sewer overflows and other pollutants from stormwater runoff that the city prohibits swimming
.
Are there dolphins in the Potomac River?
The species of dolphin found in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay is the common bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus).
Is the Potomac River clean?
Our hometown river is in the middle of a comeback and
is cleaner than in decades past
, but it remains too polluted for safe swimming or fishing. Thanks to decades of hard work following the Clean Water Act of 1972, many indicators of the Potomac's health are trending in the right direction.
What are 3 facts about the Potomac River?
| Quick facts for kids Potomac River | Length 405 mi (652 km) | Discharge (location 2) Location: Point of Rocks, Maryland Average rate: 9,504 cu ft/s (269.1 m 3 /s) | Discharge (location 3) Location: Hancock, Maryland Average rate: 4,168 cu ft/s (118.0 m 3 /s) |
|---|
What river is no longer in Virginia?
| James River | • coordinates 36°56′30′′N 76°26′37′′WCoordinates: 36°56′30′′N 76°26′37′′W | Length 348 mi (560 km) | Basin size 10,432 sq mi (27,020 km 2 ) | Discharge |
|---|
What river is the deepest?
In addition,
the Congo River
is the world's deepest recorded river at 720 feet (220 meters) deep in parts — too deep for light to penetrate, The New York Times reported. It's also the second-longest river in Africa, spanning a length of approximately 2,920 miles (4,700 kilometers), according to Phys.org.
Are there carp in the Potomac River?
Carp come shallow, usually by mid-March. This section of the Potomac has excellent carp fishing with fish over 30lbs a possibility.
Carp are everywhere in the river
but baiting up a spot can result in big catches.
Are there catfish in the Potomac River?
Catfish are one of the more popular gamefish species commonly harvested on the upper Potomac River
. Channel catfish and the recently introduced invasive flathead catfish are two species monitored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) Freshwater Fisheries Program.
Are there bass in the Potomac River?
The tidal Potomac River is among the best largemouth bass fisheries in the country
. Two- to 5-pound bass are quite common, with outstanding numbers of fish possible throughout the year. The month of May is an excellent time to catch fish from the popular tidal waterway that separates Virginia from Maryland.
Is the Potomac River freshwater or saltwater?
Because the Potomac does not connect with the sea (Atlantic Ocean) but with Chesapeake Bay,
fresh Potomac River water mixes with brackish Chesapeake Bay water in the Potomac Estuary
. The reach of the Potomac River that contains only fresh water but is still influenced by tides is termed the tidal Potomac River.
Can you fish in Virginia with Maryland license?
If you hold a valid fishing license in Maryland or from the Potomac River Fisheries Commission
you may not need another license to fish in Virginia
. Read the comments below on license reciprocity for more information.
Can I fish in DC with Maryland license?
MD anglers must register with VA, http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP. To fish in DC…
everyone needs a DC license, except those over 65 or under 16, to fish in DC waters
…. DC is in compliance and you DO NOT need to register elsewhere.
What is the best bait for big blue catfish?
Blue catfish eat almost anything, but the best catfish bait for this fish is a
fresh shad or skipjack
. Always use fresh baits as this can catch dozens of large blues daily. Shad can be hooked whole, or you may cut them into small chunks.
Where can I catch big catfish in Maryland?
The tidal Potomac River
remains the premier blue catfish fishery in Maryland and is a great place to start. From the Route 495 Bridge downstream to Mattawoman Creek there are many channel edges, creek mouths, and flats that will draw cats throughout the lunar cycle and tidal changes.
How big are the catfish in the Potomac River?
The average size of these fish are anywhere from
6-10 pounds
, with trophy fish being 30lbs and over. This is the Main species in the Potomac river.
