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2009

SPORT FISHING IN THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER
LEGAL SIZES, LIMITS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS

2009

A Sport Fishing License is Required <> Possession of Fillets is Prohibited <> Any Fish Caught with Hook and Line May Not Be Sold or Offered for Sale Except by Commercial License <> Any Fish Whose Size is Prohibited, Season is Closed, or is in Excess of the Possession Limit Must be Immediately Released to the Waters Where Found

Revised
3/09

Striped Bass (Rockfish)
Season Open:
Open Area:
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:
Restrictions:
Bait Restrictions:

Spring Season
April 18 through May 15
Below Harry W. Nice Bridge (Rt. 301)
28” minimum
1 per person
No high-grading allowed
No live eel. No more than 2 hooks

Summer/Fall Season
May 16 through December 31
Below Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95)
18” min. w/ only 1 over 28”
2 per person
No high-grading allowed
None

Special Restriction: When Fishing for Striped Bass During the Closed Season – Barbless Hooks are Required

Black Bass (Largemouth Bass)

Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

15" March 1 – June 15
12" all other times
5 per person

Shad – American
Season Closed – Moratorium

Black Drum
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

16”
1 per person

Shad – Hickory
Season Closed – Moratorium

Black Sea Bass
Minimum Size Limit: Possession Limit:

12 ½”
25 per person

Spanish Mackerel
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

14"
15 per person

Bluefish (Taylor)
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

No Limit
10 per person

Spotted Sea Trout
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

14"
10 per person

Catfish – Bullhead
Minimum Size Limit:
No Possession Limit:

Sturgeon
Season Closed – Moratorium

Catfish – Channel
Minimum Size Limit:
No Possession Limit:

Summer Flounder
Season:
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

April 15 – Sept. 13
16 ½”
1 per person

Catfish – White
Minimum Size Limit:
No Possession Limit:

10"

Tautog
Minimum Size Limit:
No Possession Limit:

14"

Croaker (Hardhead)
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

No Limit
25 per person

Weakfish (Sea Trout)
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

12"
6 per person

Eel
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

6"
50 per person

White Perch
Minimum Size Limit:
No Possession Limit:

Pike (Chain Pickerel)
Minimum Size Limit: No Possession Limit:	14"

Yellow Perch
Minimum Size Limit:
Possession Limit:

9"
5 per person

Red Drum (Puppy Drum)
Minimum Size Limit: Maximum Size Limit: Possession Limit:	18" 25" 5 per person

All restrictions are subject to change. For the most current information or if you have any questions please contact:
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
(804) 224-7148 - (800) 266-3904 - www.prfc.state.va.us
This publication partially funded by NOAA Award #NA06NMF4740101

CREDITS:

Illustrations by Duane Raver, Jr., in Fishes of the Southeastern United States by Charles S. Manooch, III, used with permission..

POTOMAC RIVER FISHERIES COMMISSION
SPORT FISHING LICENSE RECIPROCITY GUIDELINES

Licenses That Will Be Accepted

Virginia

PRFC
Sport Fishing License

Maryland

Bodies of Water
Fresh
Water

Salt
Water

Bay Sport

Non Tidal

Potomac River (Tidal)

Waters of the District of Columbia (DC license required)
No

No

No

No

No

Main stem of the Potomac River above Rt. 301 bridge
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Main stem of the Potomac River below Rt. 301 bridge
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

MD tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge up to demarcation lines (listed below)
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

MD tributaries below Rt. 301 bridge up to demarcation lines (listed below)
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

MD tributaries upstream of demarcation lines (listed below)
No

No

No

No

Yes

VA tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge up to demarcation lines (listed below)
Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

VA tributaries below Rt. 301 bridge
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

VA tributaries upstream of demarcation lines (listed below)
Yes

No

No

No

No

Chesapeake Bay

MD portion of Chesapeake Bay and its other tidal tributaries
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

VA portion of Chesapeake Bay and its saltwater tributaries
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Patuxent River

Above MD Rt. 214 bridge
No

No

No

No

Yes

Below MD Rt. 214 bridge
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Rappahannock River

Above Rt. 360 bridge
Yes

No

No

No

No

Main stem below Rt. 360 bridge
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Tributaries below/downstream of Rt. 360 bridge
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Virginia Ocean

Including ocean tributaries
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Demarcation Lines (Boundary Lines) between Tidal and Non-Tidal or Saltwater and Freshwater

Maryland

Virginia

Tidal waters of the Potomac River tributaries between the border with District of Columbia along its southeast quadrant line and the Chesapeake Bay are downstream of the highway bridges of the following:
Breton Bay - MD Rt. 243;
Henson Run - Oxon Hill Rd.;
Mattawoman Creek - MD Rt. 225;
Nanjemoy Creek - Trappe Bridge on MD Rt. 6;
Piscataway Creek - MD Rt. 224 (Livingston Rd.);
Port Tobacco Creek - MD Rt. 6;
St. Clements Bay - MD Rt. 234;
St. Mary's River - MD Rt. 5, (Great Mills Rd.);
Wicomico River - MD Rt. 234;
Other tidal bays and tributaries thereof.

Virginia waters between the District of Columbia and Rt. 301 bridge downstream of the following:
Accotink Creek - Rt. 1 bridge;
Aquia Creek - 1st bridge above Aquia Harbor Marina;
Chopawamsic - Rt. 1 bridge;
Choptank - Causeway;
Dogue Creek - Rt. 235, Mt. Vernon Memorial Parkway;
Four Mile Run - Rt. 1 bridge;
Hunting Creek - Rt. 1 bridge;
Little Hunting Creek - Rt. 1 bridge;
Neabsco - Rt. 1 bridge;
Occoquan River - fall line;
Pohick Creek - Rt. 611 (Colchester Rd.);
Potomac Creek - Rt. 608 bridge;
Powells Creek - Rt. 1 bridge;
Quantico Creek Rt. 1 bridge;
Unnamed bays & tributaries accessible by gas powered boats.

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