Fishing is allowed from the banks of the Anacostia River from within Anacostia Park. A D. C. fishing license is required for those sixteen to sixty-four years old. There are no set fishing spots, so anywhere you can get to the bank is OK for fishing. Popular spots are at the 11th Street Bridge and the boat ramp near the skating rink.
I don’t think it takes a genius to realize that you shouldn’t eat the fish from any waters surrounding a city of 7 million people, and fish from the Anacostia River are no exception. I’m sure one fish isn’t going to kill you, but it is best to practice catch-and-release fishing in these waters. The only exception is if you catch a snakehead fish, which is an invasive species. You are asked to kill and dispose of these fish if you catch one.
Northern Snakehead (photo by USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation)
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Last updated on April 25, 2020
