What special fishing regulations apply at Anacostia River?

Anacostia River carries 7 special-regulation overlays that override District of Columbia's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Northern snakehead, and 2 more. One of them reads: "8.7-mile tidal Potomac tributary entirely under DC DOEE jurisdiction; recovering urban-river fishery — tidal largemouth bass + striped bass spring run + blue + channel catfish + white perch + yellow perch + invasive snakehead (harvest encouraged); annual Bassmaster Elite + Northern Open events frequently held; DC Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 16-64." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Anacostia River?

Yes. Anacostia River is in District of Columbia, so a valid District of Columbia fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Anacostia River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide District of Columbia rules.

Do Anacostia River's special rules replace District of Columbia's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. District of Columbia's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Anacostia River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Anacostia River?

Largemouth bass, Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Northern snakehead, Channel catfish, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Anacostia River, each linking to its full District of Columbia regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide District of Columbia limits.

2026 regulation year

Anacostia River 2026 — District of Columbia Fishing Regulations

District of Columbia statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 3, 2026

Anacostia River carries 7 special-regulation overlays on top of District of Columbia's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Northern snakehead, and 2 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Anacostia River (DC) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

8.7-mile tidal Potomac tributary entirely under DC DOEE jurisdiction; recovering urban-river fishery — tidal largemouth bass + striped bass spring run + blue + channel catfish + white perch + yellow perch + invasive snakehead (harvest encouraged); annual Bassmaster Elite + Northern Open events frequently held; DC Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 16-64
Source: District of Columbia special-water list

Per-species rules on Anacostia River

Largemouth bass regulations →
12 in min, 5 / day combined; DC DOEE jurisdiction; Bassmaster Elite + Northern Open tournament-quality fishery
Striped bass (rockfish) regulations →
19–24 in slot, 1 / day; spring spawning run extends into the lower Anacostia mouth at Kingman Lake + the Sousa Bridge
Blue catfish regulations →
No size or bag limit; DC DOEE jurisdiction; dominant catfish species by mass
Northern snakehead regulations →
No size or bag limit; live release PROHIBITED; densest DC snakehead concentration — Kingman Lake + tidal grass beds
Channel catfish regulations →
12 in min, 3 / day (DC DOEE); deep tidal holes below the Sousa + CSX bridges
Yellow perch regulations →
8 in min, 3 / day (DC DOEE); late-Feb – Apr spawning run up the tidal tributaries

Official source

District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division publishes the authoritative 2026 District of Columbia fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in District of Columbia

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Anacostia River?: Anacostia River carries 7 special-regulation overlays that override District of Columbia's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Northern snakehead, and 2 more. One of them reads: "8.7-mile tidal Potomac tributary entirely under DC DOEE jurisdiction; recovering urban-river fishery — tidal largemouth bass + striped bass spring run + blue + channel catfish + white perch + yellow perch + invasive snakehead (harvest encouraged); annual Bassmaster Elite + Northern Open events frequently held; DC Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 16-64." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Anacostia River?: Yes. Anacostia River is in District of Columbia, so a valid District of Columbia fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Anacostia River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide District of Columbia rules.
Do Anacostia River's special rules replace District of Columbia's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. District of Columbia's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Anacostia River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Anacostia River?: Largemouth bass, Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Northern snakehead, Channel catfish, and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Anacostia River, each linking to its full District of Columbia regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide District of Columbia limits.

← Back to District of Columbia regulations overview