[whodat73]

Hello all. New to catfishing in the MD/VA area and see that most are reccomending shad or herring as bait. From what I've read here and other places, people are catching bait in a cast net. I'm confused about cast net regulations on the Potomac and tributaries. I have a MD Bay (Tidal) license on my boat and no other licenses. I can't find anything ont the PRFC site except that there is a moratorium on Shad. Can anybody give me the no B.S. rundown on what the rules are for using a cast net on the Potomac and what fish I can catch and use? Otherwise, I need a grid coordinate for a really good bait shop:dance:. By the way, this site is great. I've gotten tons of new info and ideas from the boards...you guys really know your stuff!

 

[Triple-L]

WELCOME TO THE SITE! As far as I have read (and been told), no special license or permit is needed to use a cast net on the Tidal Potomac. If you are fishing from a boat you would be much better using a gill net. ( a gill net license is required and can be purchased online from VDGIF) However, The gill net can ONLY be used in VA waters.

This time of year eels and live bluegill are popular baits. I have used them both with success.

 

[whodat73]

Thanks Larry! Are you using frozen eel?

 

[Bomberman]

I can't find anything ont the PRFC site except that there is a moratorium on Shad. Can anybody give me the no B.S. rundown on what the rules are for using a cast net on the Potomac and what fish I can catch and use?

OK...here's the skinny.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/tidalunlawful.html

IN TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE IT IS LAWFUL:
4. to use a seine up to 50 feet in length and five feet wide to obtain bait minnows.
5. to use a cast net (up to 10 feet in radius) in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries where nets are permitted.
6. to keep any size white perch if caught by hook and line.
IN TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE IT IS UNLAWFUL:
1. to have in one's possession aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland any striped bass CUT UP or FILLET during the open or closed season for striped bass. Striped bass must be landed whole.
2. to have in one's possession aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland more than fifteen (15) pounds of any fish CUT UP upon which a size or weight limit is prescribed by law or regulations.
3. to have in one's possession American or hickory shad.
4. to use more than two (2) hooks or two (2) sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered one (1) set of hooks.
5. for a person to use eel as bait except during the recreational summer striped bass season.
7. during striped bass season to fillet a striped bass. Striped bass must be landed whole.

What this boils down to is you can use a cast net to catch your bait. The main bait on the Potomac is the Gizzard Shad. Do not confuse this with the Hickory Shad or the American (White) Shad. If you don't know how to tell the difference, Google it and print out the pictures of each one so you don't get caught with the wrong fish. This time of year, there may be a few American Shad left in the river but most have already spawned and are gone. Same with the Hickory Shad. So, what you have left are the Gizzard Shad and they are very common. Just about any mud flat or creek or marina will have them swimming around in large schools.

Now to confuse you. In Virginia, you can use a "gill net" to catch Shad as long as you have it marked correctly...the Virginia Marine Resources Commission governs that. REGULATION: RECREATIONAL FISHING AND CRABBING IN VIRGINIA TIDAL WATERS . To use one you need to buy a Gill Net permit...the best place to buy one is on line at Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries Virginia Hunting & Fishing Licenses . The cost is $9.00 and you must use in only in Virginia waters. Get to know the PRFC markers at the entrances to the various creeks and make sure you are on the correct side of them.

You can also use a hook and line to catch Bluegills or White Perch, which are excellent bait...it just takes longer to catch your bait. In my experience, the Gill Net is the way to go...besides, I'm lousy at throwing a cast net. :laugh1:

Now, let the questions begin........

Oh, and welcome to the site.

 

[whodat73]

Chuck,
Thanks, that's great info. I just bought a cast net, so I gotta at least give it a try. You hit the nail on the head though, in terms of ease of use from the boat. Not sure I can get shallow enough to have much luck. I saw posted here (or in another forum) that there were some good spots to try just above Leesylvania and at Gunston Cove. I may give those a shot...just prefer to spend all my time catching big blues and not bait!!!

You guys having any luck recently?

 

[Triple-L]

Chuck,
Thanks, that's great info. I just bought a cast net, so I gotta at least give it a try. You hit the nail on the head though, in terms of ease of use from the boat. Not sure I can get shallow enough to have much luck. I saw posted here (or in another forum) that there were some good spots to try just above Leesylvania and at Gunston Cove. I may give those a shot...just prefer to spend all my time catching big blues and not bait!!!

You guys having any luck recently?

Like chuck said any of the creeks and mud flats have plenty of shad.......I bought a cast net and got so frustrated attempting to use it that I ordered a gill net and gave the cast net to a gentlemen I seen using one at the docks! TO answer your previous question....I personally have not used frozen eel, but I have heard that frozen eel is very effective and not the same as most frozen baits......The thing i like about eels is it stays on the hook so well due to the tough skin....You can catch multiple fish on the same peice of bait....I have found that the head and a section about 6-8" works best for me but you can use any size and part.

This time of year most of the diehard catfisherman are on "break" ..........Anxiously awaiting the end of the spawn.....There are plenty of smaller blues and channels to be caught though.....

I personally have cut my fishing from 3 days a week to maybe 3 times every 2 or 3 weeks........Soon enough it will be back to business

 

[Bomberman]

Chuck,
Thanks, that's great info. I just bought a cast net, so I gotta at least give it a try. You hit the nail on the head though, in terms of ease of use from the boat. Not sure I can get shallow enough to have much luck. I saw posted here (or in another forum) that there were some good spots to try just above Leesylvania and at Gunston Cove. I may give those a shot...just prefer to spend all my time catching big blues and not bait!!!

You guys having any luck recently?

I can give you a few bait holes around Leesylvania...but I'm not going to post them to an open forum. Shoot me a P.M. if you're interested.

 

[ramon06]

OK...here's the skinny.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/tidalunlawful.html

IN TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE IT IS LAWFUL:
4. to use a seine up to 50 feet in length and five feet wide to obtain bait minnows.
5. to use a cast net (up to 10 feet in radius) in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries where nets are permitted.
6. to keep any size white perch if caught by hook and line.
IN TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE IT IS UNLAWFUL:
1. to have in one's possession aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland any striped bass CUT UP or FILLET during the open or closed season for striped bass. Striped bass must be landed whole.
2. to have in one's possession aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland more than fifteen (15) pounds of any fish CUT UP upon which a size or weight limit is prescribed by law or regulations.
3. to have in one's possession American or hickory shad.
4. to use more than two (2) hooks or two (2) sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered one (1) set of hooks.
5. for a person to use eel as bait except during the recreational summer striped bass season.
7. during striped bass season to fillet a striped bass. Striped bass must be landed whole.

What this boils down to is you can use a cast net to catch your bait. The main bait on the Potomac is the Gizzard Shad. Do not confuse this with the Hickory Shad or the American (White) Shad. If you don't know how to tell the difference, Google it and print out the pictures of each one so you don't get caught with the wrong fish. This time of year, there may be a few American Shad left in the river but most have already spawned and are gone. Same with the Hickory Shad. So, what you have left are the Gizzard Shad and they are very common. Just about any mud flat or creek or marina will have them swimming around in large schools.

Now to confuse you. In Virginia, you can use a "gill net" to catch Shad as long as you have it marked correctly...the Virginia Marine Resources Commission governs that. REGULATION: RECREATIONAL FISHING AND CRABBING IN VIRGINIA TIDAL WATERS . To use one you need to buy a Gill Net permit...the best place to buy one is on line at Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries Virginia Hunting & Fishing Licenses. The cost is $9.00 and you must use in only in Virginia waters. Get to know the PRFC markers at the entrances to the various creeks and make sure you are on the correct side of them.

You can also use a hook and line to catch Bluegills or White Perch, which are excellent bait...it just takes longer to catch your bait. In my experience, the Gill Net is the way to go...besides, I'm lousy at throwing a cast net. :laugh1:

Now, let the questions begin........

Oh, and welcome to the site.

Wow so you guys can only use Eel in Maryland during the summer Striper season? Do you guys use them anyway the rest of the year? I know it probably doesnt matter as most people use shad 90% of the time anyway

 

[whodat73]

You know, that's a good catch. It seems like you could use frozen eel any time of year, especially since they sell it all over.

 

[Asartin]

Welcome to the board Marty!!! You picked a good area to move to, tons of big cats around you. Good luck out there and tight lines

 

[Bomberman]

Wow so you guys can only use Eel in Maryland during the summer Striper season? Do you guys use them anyway the rest of the year? I know it probably doesnt matter as most people use shad 90% of the time anyway

I don't use them at all because of this regulation. In Maryland, the Striped Bass is king so most regulations are designed with them in mind. Personally I don't see the big deal but money talks and the Striper gets it all.

 

[ramon06]

I don't use them at all because of this regulation. In Maryland, the Striped Bass is king so most regulations are designed with them in mind. Personally I don't see the big deal but money talks and the Striper gets it all.

Yeah I kinda figured that, I havent used them except once since I started boat fishing. I used them everytime when I was bank fishing along side live gills and cut gill lol I had no choice if I wanted to catch fish. Now I just set the gill net and catch gills while waiting or I bring the live gills with me. I messed up yesterday and threw 40+ gills in my cooler sunday night and when I got home last night from work all were dead. I know 40 was too much, I did have 23 make it for 2 weeks, maybe too much waste at one time for the cooler, I was testing the limits of my bait tank. No one needs 40 gills at one time anyway, I hate they died, since half of them was the size of my palm or bigger, I'll catch more tonight

 

[aquaman9]

Yeah I kinda figured that, I havent used them except once since I started boat fishing. I used them everytime when I was bank fishing along side live gills and cut gill lol I had no choice if I wanted to catch fish. Now I just set the gill net and catch gills while waiting or I bring the live gills with me. I messed up yesterday and threw 40+ gills in my cooler sunday night and when I got home last night from work all were dead. I know 40 was too much, I did have 23 make it for 2 weeks, maybe too much waste at one time for the cooler, I was testing the limits of my bait tank. No one needs 40 gills at one time anyway, I hate they died, since half of them was the size of my palm or bigger, I'll catch more tonight

I have used them dead many times on the James and caught alot of fish with them. You have a good supply down there though so fresh is allways the best.

 

[ramon06]

I have used them dead many times on the James and caught alot of fish with them. You have a good supply down there though so fresh is allways the best.

these were beyond dead, I like to freeze dead ones to use later, I love the frozen heads or I just use the head when they die

 

[aquaman9]

I don't use them at all because of this regulation. In Maryland, the Striped Bass is king so most regulations are designed with them in mind. Personally I don't see the big deal but money talks and the Striper gets it all.

I think the only time you are not allowed to use eels is between April 17th to May 15th. June through Dec looks OK from Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the bay. At a price of about 30.00 a dozen compared to setting out the gill net and waiting 5 minutes. Thats a little pricey

 

[Triple-L]

I think the only time you are not allowed to use eels is between April 17th to May 15th. June through Dec looks OK from Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the bay. At a price of about 30.00 a dozen compared to setting out the gill net and waiting 5 minutes. Thats a little pricey

..........so you won't be needing Ramon to bring you some up on the 19th? lol

 

[ramon06]

..........so you won't be needing Ramon to bring you some up on the 19th? lol

LMAO hahahahahahahaha