Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I have that chart pinned on the wall in my office but I think that some of these species either cannot be found in the Potomac or they are extremely rare. Perhaps they were caught in the past.

I am anxious to hear from Osprey and the good Capt. Mike.

weakfish- in the past
speckeled trout, reds- on occasion
Spanish macs- yes
toutog- no clue
Black Sea bass- at one time

all others- yes

I've never heard of any tog in the river. I have heard reports of them being around the bay bridge rock piles in January, and if true they have to pass the river. Maybe around some of the ballast stone piles, but if they're there it's a well kept secret.
I've heard of black drum being caught in cornfield harbor. They migrate up the eastern side of the bay and sometimes back down on the western side. I've heard of many in and around the mouth of St Jerome's creek so the Potomac isn't a stretch.
Sea bass used to be plentiful, but none approaching 12". My dad used to call them black wills and if you caught one around 7' you had a prize.
Never caught a sturgeon, but I've seen them. Not sure if it's still the case, but DNR wanted you to report any you caught and they'd come to you to collect it (live)
I've  caught the rest on the list as well as species not on the list. King William Perch come to mind.
Capt. Mike's list will surprise you, and proves anything is possible

I've never seen a chain or caught one in the potomac. Has anyone else?

I'm sure the reduced size in specs and reduced number of weak fish has nothing to do with Omega Proteins vacuuming up everything it can in the bay and the mouth of the river.

At one time or another, I have caught all species on the chart in the Potomac River.
The discussion about Tautog is interesting. The rock piles around Point Lookout (Cornfield Harbor) hold tautog during the winter months into the early spring.  Someone mentioned Chain Pickerel. Mattawoman Creek and the Spoils used to be loaded with them. Haven't caught them there in years. Back in the 80's, it was not at all unusual to catch a 151 Qt. Igloo cooler full of weakfish in the 5-15# class. I remember one trip when we loaded my Igloo with weakfish which had been scaled, gutted and heads/tails cut off. The fish averaged 6# and the cooler took four men to lift into my Suburban. Have caught many chopper bluefish in Aquia Creek; flounder, croaker and spot off National Airport; American eels all over the river; speckled trout in Nomini Creek; white and yellow perch all over the river, black drum, red drum, sea bass, Spanish mackerel, tautog and weakfish from the mouth of St. Mary's river to Smith Point and Point Lookout; shortnosed sturgeon off Alexandria waterfront and in Aquia creek; Hickory and American shad at Fletcher's boathouse, along with river herring; bullhead, white and channel catfish all over the river; and largemouth bass all over the river.

In addition, there have been many species not listed, such as smallmouth bass, tiger muskie, walleye, blue catfish, sea robins, cownosed rays, dogfish, cobia and oyster crackers.

Charlie NHBA.........

Or the big brown trout caught at the mouth of Mattawomen.

Have not heard of salmon caught here but up on the Susky Flats last year one was caught.

Since there are no fences to keep them out any fish can show up. Even seals up by Popes Creek.

Capt Mike

Thanks guys, I guess I need to get out there more. Saw a tiger trout caught around little falls this year. Salmon is crazy! I though I saw a seal this year but decided it must have been an otter or something. Seemed big though.

Anyone seen a weakfish in the last 5 years in the Potomac? I'm going to go looking for Tog around PLO, should be fun in a kayak!