The striped bass season ends on December 31, and so does every license, whenever it was bought. After New Year nothing in the District's rules changes until March 1, when the 15-inch bass minimum returns.
What to fish for in early November
One tidal river, and a quiet quarter on it. The Potomac and the Anacostia run cold and clear, and the fishing is for catfish and the resident bass in the deep and the sheltered water, slow on the coldest days and steady on the mild ones. The season's one change comes at its very end, when the first yellow perch push up the river ahead of the spring runs.
Blue Catfish
The District's dependable winter fish, feeding in the coldest water of the year, with the bigger fish holding in the deepest holes of the channel.
Where. The deep water off Hains Point, the channel down toward the Wilson Bridge and the holes below Georgetown.
Channel Catfish
Slower than the blue catfish in the cold, and quick to pick up on the mild afternoons after a warm spell.
Where. Holes and bends of the lower Anacostia and the river off the Navy Yard, close to the bottom.
Largemouth Bass
Holds tight to the warmest, most sheltered water and feeds in short spells on still, sunny afternoons.
Where. The Washington Channel, the marinas and the protected coves along both shores, and Kingman Lake off the Anacostia.
Yellow Perch
Gathers in the deeper river channel through the cold and starts its push upstream in the last days of February, ahead of the shad and the herring.
Where. The Potomac below Little Falls and Fletcher's Cove, and the upper tidal Anacostia.
What changes soon
Nothing on this report's calendar for the District of Columbia in the next six weeks.
Every date for the District of Columbia from November to February (1)
- Thu December 31Last day of the District's striped bass season. Every West Virginia, Delaware and District of Columbia license expires at midnight.
This week's fishing reports
This report covers the season. For what was caught this week, read the people who report on this water.
Nobody reports the District's water in winter. The Department of Energy and Environment publishes the rules and the striped bass season but no conditions, Fletcher's Boathouse posts reports in the spring shad run, and FishTalk's Lower Bay page speaks of the Potomac's blue catfish only in general terms.
Where to fish in the District of Columbia, area by area
The District
Potomac River · Fletcher's Cove · Anacostia River · Washington Channel · Kingman Lake
The tidal Potomac from Little Falls and Fletcher's Cove past the monuments to the Wilson Bridge, with the Anacostia, the Washington Channel and Kingman Lake, and Rock Creek running down through its park. Fresh tidal water inside a city, where striped bass, shad and herring run up to the falls in spring.
Who reports here. A DC license is sold online only and runs out on December 31 whenever it was bought, so a January trip needs one for the new year, bought before you go.
The rules from November to February
What changed this time
- No District fishing rule was found to change for this winter by October 19. The 15-inch bass minimum returns on March 1, just after the quarter.
Read on October 19, 2026, from the District's Department of Energy and Environment (its fishing license and fishing regulation pages).
Licenses, and which state's rules apply
- Anyone 16 to 64 fishing District water needs a DC fishing license, even when fishing from the Virginia shore or National Park land. It costs $10 for a resident and $13 for a visitor, is sold online only, and is good from purchase until December 31 of that year. Anglers under 16 and 65 and older are exempt.
Bait, gear and fish you cannot keep
- Fish only with a rod, hook and line: no more than three lines and no more than two hooks on each, a lure with several hooks counting as one. Cast nets, seines and snagging are banned; a dip net may only catch bait or land a fish, and no wider than 24 inches; an angler may set up to five eel traps. Rock Creek Park allows no nets at all and no digging for bait. A northern snakehead must not go back in the water.
Lakes, ponds and rivers
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass are 5 a day together, each at least 12 inches (at least 15 from March 1 through June 15). Channel catfish are 3 a day of at least 12 inches, walleye 1 of at least 14, yellow perch 3 of at least 8, American eel 10 of at least 6 and longnose gar 1 of at least 24. Chain pickerel, northern pike, sturgeon, American and hickory shad and river herring may not be kept.
- Striped bass may be kept only in the season the District announces each year, 1 a day no shorter than 19 inches and no longer than 24. The announced season runs from May 16 through December 31, so from January 1 none may be kept until it reopens.
Read on these agency pages: DOEE: Get a Fishing License (District of Columbia), DOEE: Regulated Fishing Activities (District of Columbia).
The season at a glance
The moon from November to February
| Month | New moon | Full moon |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Mon, Nov 9 | Tue, Nov 24 |
| December 2026 | Tue, Dec 8 | Wed, Dec 23 |
| January 2027 | Thu, Jan 7 | Fri, Jan 22 |
| February 2027 | Sat, Feb 6 | Sat, Feb 20 |
The U.S. Naval Observatory's dates, on local time.
Daylight in each area from November to February
Worked out for one place in each area, on its own clock.
| Area | Shortest day | Earliest sunset | Latest sunrise |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Districtat Potomac River at Little Falls | 9h 26m, Dec 21 | 4:48pm, around Dec 7 | 7:29am, around Jan 4 |