Chasing Striped Bass on the Potomac: A Day to Remember
There’s nothing quite like getting that call from a buddy who’s already on the water and says, “They’re in good fish.” That was Vince yesterday, out on the Potomac, and his report was enough to get me moving fast. I grabbed my gear, called up my friend Roger, and we headed out to join the action.
Finding Vince wasn’t easy,he was somewhere among a sea of birds working the water. And let me tell you, there were birds everywhere. It was one of those magical days where nature gives you all the signs: diving gulls, rippling water, and the promise of fish beneath. But here’s the twist, unlike the usual pattern, the fish weren’t sitting directly under the birds. You had to cast just outside their circle to find the sweet spot. Once we figured that out, it was game on.
For the next hour and a half, it felt like the Potomac was alive. We caught about 25 fish in that short window, and most of them were right around 23.5 inches,perfect for the legal slot limit. Roger even landed a beauty at 27 inches, which we had to release, and I pulled in a smaller one around 19. But the rest? Solid, healthy fish in that 23-inch range. After a while, you don’t even need a tape measure, you just know.
We ended up keeping two fish, the ones that had swallowed the lure too deep and wouldn’t have survived if released. That’s always my rule: if a fish can’t make it, it comes home with me. By then, the chill on the water was starting to bite, and with our limit met, we decided to call it a day.
Cold fingers aside, it was an incredible trip, great company, nonstop action, and a reminder of why we love these waters. If you’re thinking about heading out, now’s the time. The Potomac is hot, the birds are working, and the stripers are everywhere.
Until next time, tight lines!
