The lower Potomac River offers strong striped bass fishing opportunities through December 31, 2025, as pre-spawn migratory fish arrive and mix with resident populations, according to a final seasonal report from Ken Lamb of St. Mary’s Tacklebox in Lexington Park.
Captain Greg Buckner, operating the Miss Susie charter out of Point Lookout Marina in Ridge, reported large concentrations of striped bass ranging from 17 to 30 inches in the Potomac from Number 5 buoy to Ragged Point. Fish finders showed rockfish marking heavily alongside baitfish schools across wide stretches of the river.
Trolling remains the primary method as colder water temperatures push fish toward the bottom. Anglers deploy 20 to 32 ounces of inline weights to run umbrella rigs, tandem bucktails, or similar lures near the channel floor. Light tackle jigging proves effective during surface feeds under diving gulls, though such breaks occur less frequently in cooler conditions.
Large migratory striped bass exceeding 40 inches appear alongside healthy resident fish fitting the 19- to 24-inch keepable slot. The 2025 harvest season in the tidal Potomac ends December 31, with a one-fish daily limit per angler in that slot size. After December 10, the main Chesapeake Bay and most Maryland tidal tributaries closed to striped bass harvest, leaving the Potomac as a key late-season option for Southern Maryland anglers.
Catch-and-release fishing for striped bass continues year-round outside spawning closures, which run from April 1 to May 15, 2026, in protected areas. Windy conditions may limit safe outings in coming weeks, so monitoring marine forecasts proves essential for boaters launching from public ramps in St. Mary’s County, such as those at St. Georges Island or Piney Point.
White perch shift to deeper holes in the Potomac and Patuxent rivers for winter, where bottom fishing with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces yields steady action once schools locate on depth finders. Catfish hold in upper river sections, responding to cut bait on milder days.
St. Mary’s Tacklebox, a longtime source for local fishing updates since the 1970s, signs off weekly reports until spring 2026. The shop supplies bait, tackle, and licenses for anglers targeting these winter species from shore or small boats in protected creeks.
Southern Maryland’s position at the Potomac’s mouth and near Point Lookout provides access to these late-season bites, with charters like Miss Susie offering trips from Ridge. Public access points along Route 5 and local marinas support independent anglers pursuing perch and catfish through winter.
Regulations require a Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License for those 16 and older, available online or at tackle shops. Circle hooks apply when bait fishing for striped bass to reduce mortality.
This final report aligns with Maryland Department of Natural Resources observations of strong lower Potomac action in December, emphasizing bottom-oriented tactics as fish stage for migration.