Anglers fishing the Lower Potomac River this summer have enjoyed catching some of the biggest croakers in years. More recently, spot have added to the bottom fishing action along with gray trout. Small blues have been caught all the way from just inside Point Lookout and the Potomac’s Lower Northern Neck shoreline to as far upriver as Colonial Beach and Cobb Island. Even Spanish mackerel have again invaded the Lower Potomac to provide some exciting trolling action as they chase schools of shiner minnows at fast moving speeds. 

     As the summer heat subsides and cooler early fall weather prevails, fishing focus will be more on striped bass and larger blues. Rock fishing is a historic tradition along both the Maryland and Virginia shores of the Potomac and since the recovery of this popular species in the post-moratorium years, many new generation of anglers are getting into the action. Trolling continues to be among our favorite ways to catch rockfish along the Potomac but for others, casting into breaking schools or jigging underwater obstructions is theirs. Chumming for rockfish is another popular tactic which includes favored locations on both sides of the Potomac. Whatever your choice of fishing methods, anglers on the Lower Potomac this month could be in for some great fall fishing fun. 

     One of the best ways to welcome in early fall rock fishing time is to enter the annual “Potomac River Rock & Bluefish Tournament” sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, Northern Neck Lodge 32. This year’s tournament, related activities and evening entertainment take place at Coles Point Plantation Marina on September 26-28, 2002 with fishing competition days on Friday September 27 and Saturday, September 28. 

     Cost to enter the tournament competition is $200 per boat. There will be four early entry prize drawings of $250 each for boats entered prior to midnight on September 15, 2002. Cash prizes will be awarded for the three largest overall rockfish and bluefish caught during the two days of competition and daily cash prizes will be awarded for the top three blues and rock, weighed in each of the two days. Those entered in the competition can register and pick up their tournament package on Thursday, September 26 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Late registration and tournament entry is also available at the Coles Point Plantation Marina tournament headquarters. A captain’s meeting takes place September 26 at 7:00 p.m. Official fishing times on each day of the competition are from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to the evening festivities where food and beverages will be available. The Saturday night entertainment features “Low Profile with John Donaldson.” For additional information, call (804) 472-3955.

     A hunter education class which includes hunting regulations, ethics and safety issues takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on September 9, 11 and the 13th. The course will be provided at the new Callao Rescue Squad on Route 360, in Northumberland County, Virginia. No advance registration is required and attendance is free. For additional information, call Bruce Wilds at (804) 580-8942.

© 2002 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved.