Fisheries and Wildlife Environmental Health Administration
Regulated Activities
Fishing or taking fish and other aquatic organisms for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Except as otherwise permitted by these rules: a person shall fish only with a rod, hook, and line, not to exceed three lines in number and not having more than two hooks to each line.
Artificial lures or plugs with multiple or gang hooks are considered one unit.
The use of dip nets shall be prohibited, except for capturing baitfish, gizzard shad, shiners, and other cyprinids and in the landing of fish taken by angling, provided the net does not exceed 24 inches in diameter and nine cubic feet in overall volume.
The use of cast nets and seine nets is prohibited.
Snagging of aquatic organisms is prohibited.
A person may operate eel traps, if the number of traps does not exceed five.
An eel trap operator shall attach the operator's angling license number to each trap.
Additional Regulations for Rock Creek Park
No nets of any kind are permitted in Rock Creek Park for the purpose of catching fish.
No digging for bait in Rock Creek Park is permitted.
It is Unlawful
It shall be unlawful to do any of the following:
Introduce any species of fish, or other aquatic organism not indigenous to the waters of the District of Columbia;
Possess a fish with a total length less than the minimum (see Species Descriptions);
Possess a number of fish of a particular species greater than the possession limit listed in the Species Descriptions;
Possess aboard any boat, while fishing, or while in the possession of fishing equipment, any fish that has had the head or tail removed for which size or a weight limit is prescribed;
Capture, harass, harm, or fail to return to the water immediately any organism which is listed by the US Department of Interior as endangered, or threatened, except for specific or designated scientific collection;
Take, kill, or injure fish or other aquatic organism by using explosives, chemicals, firearms, or electricity, except for scientific collection;
Take, catch, or possess any species of sturgeon; or
Take fish except as specified in these rules.
Species Specific
Fish Species
Regulation
American Shad
Prohibited**
Chain Pickerel
Prohibited**
Hickory Shad
Prohibited**
Longnose Gar
Prohibited**
Northern Pike
Prohibited**
Striped Bass
Prohibited**
Largemouth Bass
Min. Length: 12(*) inches; Creel limit: 5 per day
Smallmouth Bass
Min. Length: 12(*) inches; Creel limit: 5 per day
Channel Catfish
Min. Length: 12 inches; Creel limit: 3 per day
Walleye
Min. Length: 14 inches; Creel limit: 1 per day
Yellow Perch
Min. Length: 8 inches; Creel limit: 3 per day
**Unless season is posted
*15 inches, March 1 thru June 15
For more info call: (202) 535-2272
Penalties
Any person who violates fishing license rules and regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined:
A fine of $100.00 for the first offense
A fine of $150.00 for the second offense
A fine of $200.00 for the third and subsequent offenses
