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Angler Education
Would you like to go fishing but don’t know where to go or what equipment you need? DOEE's Fisheries & Wildlife staff can help you get started!
Upcoming Fishing Events
- Friday, April 5, 2024. 10am to 12pm. Family Fishing Discovery Day at the AREC in Anacostia Park. Come tour the aquarium, practice casting, and fish in the park. Pack a picnic lunch and stay for the day using DOEE loaner tackle. Please register >>
- Sunday, April 28, 2024. 10am to 12pm. Community Fishing at Diamond Teague Park. Come join DOEE biologists and Washington Spirit Soccer Players as they kick off the fishing season together!
- Saturday, May 4, 2024. 12-4 PM. Fishing in Anacostia Park at the Anacostia River Festival. Come find the DOEE Fishing in the District fishing trailer where you can borrow a rod and learn to fish.
Mobile First Catch Center
In 2021, DOEE partnered with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and received a fully stocked, custom wrapped Mobile First Catch Center trailer. RBFF’s generous donation has allowed DOEE biologists to provide numerous public-facing angling education opportunities throughout the District of Columbia In addition to public-facing events, DOEE provides small-scale angling education opportunities to school groups, scout groups, church groups, and more.
Interested in fishing with us? Contact Teresa Rodriguez at: [email protected].
Know Before You Go!
In the District of Columbia, anglers ages 16 to 64 need a fishing license. To purchase a license, or to view the District’s Regulated Fishing Activities, please visit Fishing in the District.
Where to Fish
The District is home to several bodies of water that provide fishing opportunities for beginners as well as advanced anglers. There are several parks that provide access to rivers and streams that offer excellent fishing including:
- C&O Canal - The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland and offers unique fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, and invasive northern snakeheads. A District of Columbia fishing license is valid on the Canal from approximately 1/3 mile below Lock 5 to the Canal’s terminus with Rock Creek.
- Fletcher’s Boathouse – Fletcher's Boathouse rents rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards along the upper tidal Potomac River. Anglers flock to Fletcher’s in the springtime to take advantage of the annual shad run. Fletcher’s is also a popular location for anglers targeting invasive blue catfish, with trophy fish available year-round. Check the website or call ahead for fishing reports and boat availability.
- Tidal Basin – Located downtown, the Tidal Basin is a popular destination for local shore anglers. Despite its urban location, anglers can reasonably expect to encounter a wide variety of fish species. Largemouth bass, invasive blue catfish, invasive northern snakeheads, and common carp are among the most popular target species. Anglers also target crappie, perch, and sunfish throughout the Basin. Please be mindful of posted signage adjacent to the monuments.
- Hains Point – Located in East Potomac Park, Hains Point is one of the most popular shore fishing locations in the District. Anglers regularly target common carp and invasive blue catfish on both the main river and Washington Channel sides of the Point. Assorted sunfish and perch can be caught along the seawall as well. Please be mindful of posted signage and park hours.
- Diamond Teague Park - Diamond Teague Park, located in the Navy Yard district, offers dock access to the tidal Anacostia River. Anglers regularly catch invasive blue catfish and common carp off the floating dock. In the springtime, assorted sunfish will bed in the shallows along the shoreline, and crappie will suspend under the dock. Anglers occasionally catch largemouth bass and invasive northern snakeheads off the dock in the spring, summer, and fall. Diamond Teague Park is also home to Anacostia Riverkeeper’s Friday Night Fishing events.
- Anacostia Park - Anacostia Park, on the east side of the Anacostia River, offers ample shore fishing opportunities for a variety of species, including invasive blue catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, assorted sunfish, and invasive northern snakeheads. The Anacostia Park boat ramp, maintained by the National Park Service, offers free boating access to the tidal Anacostia River. Anacostia Park is also home to DOEE’s Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC). The AREC, located in the north end of the park, features over 40 species of local fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
Additional Resources
- Project Aquatic Wild’s “Gone Fishing” Trip Planning document - downloadable handout to help you prepare for your first angling experience.
- Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing has information on how and when to fish, where to fish in your state, special events, and more.
- Trout Unlimited’s Headwaters Youth Program - presents opportunities to explore a range of watershed and fly-fishing education programs for children, teenagers, and young adults.
- Animated Knots -helps with learning to tie any kind of knot you will ever need!