When is striped bass season in District of Columbia?

Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning protection); harvest May 16 – Jul 6 + Aug 21 – Dec 31 at the 19–24 in slot + 1 / day; no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20. DC DOEE / PRFC 2026 harmonized Chesapeake recreational rule. Confirm current-year notice. Those are the 2026 District of Columbia dates; always confirm against District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the District of Columbia bag limit for striped bass?

The District of Columbia daily bag limit for striped bass is 1 / day per angler (DC DOEE / PRFC harmonized Chesapeake recreational). The possession limit is 1 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size striped bass can you keep in District of Columbia?

The District of Columbia size rule for striped bass is 19–24 in protected slot (Chesapeake / tidal Potomac recreational — DC DOEE + PRFC 2026). Slot limit: 19–24 in slot — only slot-size fish retainable in the recreational fishery (distinct from the 28–31 in coastal slot). Trophy rule: Fish outside the 19–24 in slot MUST be released; catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning) + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20 (summer heat-stress); inline circle hooks REQUIRED on natural bait. The 19–24 in Chesapeake slot is distinct from the 28–31 in coastal/ocean slot.

Do you need a license to fish for striped bass in District of Columbia?

Yes. District of Columbia requires a valid fishing license to fish for striped bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a District of Columbia license — compare resident and non-resident District of Columbia fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for striped bass in District of Columbia?

Yes. In District of Columbia, striped bass fishing carries these gear rules: Non-offset (inline) circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing cut or whole natural bait for striped bass; No live eel as bait; no more than 2 hooks or sets of hooks per rod/line (PRFC 2026 bait restriction); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 for DC waters (a PRFC licence is NOT valid in DC waters); Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20; No targeting striped bass for sale — strictly recreational fishery; Confirm current-year DC DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR notices — striped bass measures change in-season under the ASMFC plan.

Do specific District of Columbia waters have different striped bass rules?

Yes. 4 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide striped bass regulation, including Tidal Potomac River — DC waters, East Potomac Park / Hains Point, Anacostia River, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

District of Columbia Striped bass (rockfish) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Morone saxatilis

Last updated June 3, 2026

Striped bass — universally called 'rockfish' on the DC + Chesapeake market — anchors the spring DC saltwater-style fishery on the Tidal Potomac River. The Potomac mainstem is one of the most important Atlantic-stock striped bass spawning + nursery tributaries (alongside the Chesapeake Bay's Susquehanna + Patuxent + Nanticoke and the Hudson River) — adult fish move out of the lower Chesapeake into the Potomac March – May to spawn on the freshwater-tidal transition zone around Mount Vernon + Quantico VA + the Marshall Hall MD shore. DC waters require a DC Fishing Licence (a PRFC licence is NOT valid in DC waters), and DC DOEE's recreational striped bass rule (DCMR Title 19) harmonizes with the Maryland / Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) Chesapeake recreational measures — a 19-24 inch protected slot + 1 fish per angler per day in the open season, NOT the 28-31 inch coastal/ocean slot. For 2026 the fishery is catch-and-release only January 1 – May 15 (spawning protection, no harvest of any size), open for harvest May 16 – July 6 and again August 21 – December 31, with a no-targeting closure July 7 – August 20 protecting fish during the summer heat-stress mortality window. Non-offset (inline) circle hooks are REQUIRED when fishing cut or whole natural bait, no live eel is permitted as bait, and no more than 2 hooks (or sets of hooks) per rod/line are allowed (PRFC 2026 bait restriction). The Wilson Bridge + Hains Point + the Anacostia mouth + the Washington Channel + Roosevelt Island carry the DC-side spring + fall striped bass fishery. Confirm current PRFC + MD DNR + DOEE notices — striped bass measures change in-season under the ASMFC plan.

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Season

Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning protection); harvest May 16 – Jul 6 + Aug 21 – Dec 31 at the 19–24 in slot + 1 / day; no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20. DC DOEE / PRFC 2026 harmonized Chesapeake recreational rule. Confirm current-year notice.

Jan 1 – May 15Tidal Potomac (DC DOEE / PRFC)
Catch-and-release only — no harvest of any size (spawning protection)
May 16 – Jul 6Tidal Potomac (DC DOEE / PRFC)
Open harvest — 19–24 in slot, 1 / day
Jul 7 – Aug 20Tidal Potomac (DC DOEE / PRFC)
Closed — no direct targeting (summer heat-stress protection)
Aug 21 – Dec 31Tidal Potomac (DC DOEE / PRFC)
Open harvest — 19–24 in slot, 1 / day

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 1 / day per angler (DC DOEE / PRFC harmonized Chesapeake recreational)
Possession: 1 in possession (recreational)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 19–24 in protected slot (Chesapeake / tidal Potomac recreational — DC DOEE + PRFC 2026)
Slot: 19–24 in slot — only slot-size fish retainable in the recreational fishery (distinct from the 28–31 in coastal slot)
Trophy rule: Fish outside the 19–24 in slot MUST be released; catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning) + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20 (summer heat-stress); inline circle hooks REQUIRED on natural bait. The 19–24 in Chesapeake slot is distinct from the 28–31 in coastal/ocean slot

Gear restrictions

Non-offset (inline) circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing cut or whole natural bait for striped bass
No live eel as bait; no more than 2 hooks or sets of hooks per rod/line (PRFC 2026 bait restriction)
DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 for DC waters (a PRFC licence is NOT valid in DC waters)
Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20
No targeting striped bass for sale — strictly recreational fishery
Confirm current-year DC DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR notices — striped bass measures change in-season under the ASMFC plan

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific District of Columbia waters:

Tidal Potomac River — DC waters
19–24 in slot, 1 / day; catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20; inline circle hooks required on natural bait
East Potomac Park / Hains Point
19–24 in slot, 1 / day; classic DC shoreline striped bass destination — spring + fall runs
Anacostia River
19–24 in slot, 1 / day; spring spawning run extends into the lower Anacostia mouth at Kingman Lake + the Sousa Bridge
Washington Channel
19–24 in slot, 1 / day; tidal striped bass spring + fall runs

Official source

District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division publishes the authoritative 2026 District of Columbiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The striped bass rules on this page are sourced from District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division's official striped bass regulation page.

Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Striped bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment's emergency-order feed — check it before any District of Columbia trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is striped bass season in District of Columbia?: Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning protection); harvest May 16 – Jul 6 + Aug 21 – Dec 31 at the 19–24 in slot + 1 / day; no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20. DC DOEE / PRFC 2026 harmonized Chesapeake recreational rule. Confirm current-year notice. Those are the 2026 District of Columbia dates; always confirm against District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the District of Columbia bag limit for striped bass?: The District of Columbia daily bag limit for striped bass is 1 / day per angler (DC DOEE / PRFC harmonized Chesapeake recreational). The possession limit is 1 in possession (recreational). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size striped bass can you keep in District of Columbia?: The District of Columbia size rule for striped bass is 19–24 in protected slot (Chesapeake / tidal Potomac recreational — DC DOEE + PRFC 2026). Slot limit: 19–24 in slot — only slot-size fish retainable in the recreational fishery (distinct from the 28–31 in coastal slot). Trophy rule: Fish outside the 19–24 in slot MUST be released; catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 (spawning) + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20 (summer heat-stress); inline circle hooks REQUIRED on natural bait. The 19–24 in Chesapeake slot is distinct from the 28–31 in coastal/ocean slot.
Do you need a license to fish for striped bass in District of Columbia?: Yes. District of Columbia requires a valid fishing license to fish for striped bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a District of Columbia license — compare resident and non-resident District of Columbia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for striped bass in District of Columbia?: Yes. In District of Columbia, striped bass fishing carries these gear rules: Non-offset (inline) circle hooks REQUIRED when fishing cut or whole natural bait for striped bass; No live eel as bait; no more than 2 hooks or sets of hooks per rod/line (PRFC 2026 bait restriction); DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64 for DC waters (a PRFC licence is NOT valid in DC waters); Catch-and-release only Jan 1 – May 15 + no-targeting closure Jul 7 – Aug 20; No targeting striped bass for sale — strictly recreational fishery; Confirm current-year DC DOEE + PRFC + MD DNR notices — striped bass measures change in-season under the ASMFC plan.
Do specific District of Columbia waters have different striped bass rules?: Yes. 4 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide striped bass regulation, including Tidal Potomac River — DC waters, East Potomac Park / Hains Point, Anacostia River, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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