The Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Sport Fishing License Reciprocity Guidelines

Licenses That Will Be Accepted

Reciprocal Sportfishing License Requirements by Body of Water
Bodies of Water VA Fresh Water VA Salt Water PRFC Sportfishing License MD Bay Sport MD Non Tidal
Potomac River (Tidal) Waters of the District of Columbia (DC license required) No No No No No
Main stem of the Potomac River above Rt. 301 bridge Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Main stem of the Potomac River below Rt. 301 bridge No Yes Yes Yes No
MD tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge up to demarcation lines (listed below) Yes Yes Yes Yes No
MD tributaries below Rt. 301 bridge up to demarcation lines (listed below) No Yes Yes Yes No
MD tributaries upstream of demarcation lines (listed below) No No No No Yes
MD tributaries upstream of demarcation lines (listed below) Yes No Yes Yes No
VA tributaries below Rt. 301 bridge Yes Yes Yes Yes No
VA tributaries upstream of demarcation lines (listed below) Yes No No No No
Chesapeake Bay MD portion of Chesapeake Bay and its other tidal tributaries No Yes Yes Yes No
VA portion of Chesapeake Bay and its saltwater tributaries No Yes Yes Yes No
Patuxent River Above MD Rt. 214 bridge No No No No Yes
Patuxent River Below MD Rt. 214 bridge No Yes Yes Yes No
Rappahannock River Above Rt. 360 bridge Yes No No No No
Main stem below Rt. 360 bridge No Yes Yes Yes No
Tributaries below/downstream of Rt. 360 bridge No Yes Yes Yes No
Virginia Ocean Including ocean tributaries No Yes Yes Yes No

Demarcation Lines (Boundary Lines) between Tidal and Non-Tidal or Saltwater and Freshwater

Maryland

Tidal waters of the Potomac River tributaries between the border with District of Columbia along its southeast quadrant line and the Chesapeake Bay are downstream of the highway bridges of the following:

  • Breton Bay - MD Rt. 243
  • Henson Run - Oxon Hill Rd.
  • Mattawoman Creek - MD Rt. 225
  • Nanjemoy Creek - Trappe Bridge on MD Rt. 6
  • Piscataway Creek - MD Rt. 224 (Livingston Rd.)
  • Port Tobacco Creek - MD Rt. 6
  • St. Clements Bay - MD Rt. 234
  • St. Mary's River - MD Rt. 5, (Great Mills Rd.)
  • Wicomico River - MD Rt. 234
  • Other tidal bays and tributaries thereof.

Virginia

Virginia waters between the District of Columbia and Rt. 301 bridge downstream of the following:

  • Accotink Creek - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Aquia Creek - 1st bridge above Aquia Harbor Marina
  • Chopawamsic - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Choptank - Causeway
  • Dogue Creek - Rt. 235, Mt. Vernon Memorial Parkway
  • Four Mile Run - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Hunting Creek - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Little Hunting Creek - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Neabsco - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Occoquan River - fall line
  • Pohick Creek - Rt. 611 (Colchester Rd.)
  • Potomac Creek - Rt. 608 bridge
  • Powells Creek - Rt. 1 bridge
  • Quantico Creek Rt. 1 bridge
  • Unnamed bays & tributaries accessible by gas powered boats.