It’s a fishing day

Mason Neck State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow, 3 am–2 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 for striped bass, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 963 am
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 966 am
  5. 86
  6. 90
  7. 869 am
  8. 86
  9. 86
  10. 9012 pm
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 883 pm
  14. 88
  15. 86
  16. 906 pm
  17. 86
  18. 86
  19. 869 pm
  20. 86
  21. 88
  22. 88Tue
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 963 am
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 966 am
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 1009 am
  32. 96
  33. 96
  34. 9612 pm
  35. 100
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
2 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:28 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
45°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal Potomac main stem (PRFC), 2026: catch and release only Jan 1–May 15; harvest May 16–Jul 6 and Aug 21–Dec 31 at 1 fish a day, 19–24"; closed to targeting Jul 7–Aug 20. Non-offset circle hooks with cut or whole natural bait; no live eels; no more than 2 hooks per line.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

74Worth the tripTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Feb 29, Jun 16–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 5 a day (Mar 1–Jun 15)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): 5 black bass a day; 15" minimum Mar 1–Jun 15 and 12" the rest of the year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

74Worth the tripTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside blue catfish's active range. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): blue catfish have no size limit and no possession limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Year-round. More on blue catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

74Worth the tripTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside channel catfish's active range. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. PRFC's 2026 recreational order (#2026-03) sets limits only for bullhead catfish (6" minimum, no limit) and blue catfish (no limits); it sets no recreational size or catch limit for channel catfish on the tidal Potomac main stem.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

Northern Snakehead

Northern snakehead

Channa argus

74Worth the tripTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside northern snakehead's active range. Holds 2–10 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): no size limit, no possession limit. It is unlawful to possess a live snakehead or to release one alive.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on northern snakehead

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

74Worth the tripTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission's recreational limits sheet has no carp rule, so carp on the tidal Potomac main stem have no size limit, creel limit or closed season.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

68MarginalTomorrow, 3 am–2 pm

Water

61°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside white perch's active range. White perch prefers outgoing tide. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. PRFC's 2026 recreational order (#2026-03) does not list white perch, so the Commission sets no recreational size or catch limit for it on the tidal Potomac main stem.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on white perch

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.41 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:28 am
  • Sunset today6:16 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Virginia DWR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: PRFC · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Approximately 1,814-acre state park on a Potomac peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south, and the Potomac River on the east. Quiet tidal-bass and striper water with a car-top boat launch and miles of shoreline. Documented bald-eagle habitat — exceptional wildlife viewing alongside fishing.

Day-use fee. No swimming. Boat launch at the park. Snakehead are abundant in the tidal coves.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Pohick Bay Regional Park1 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 7 am–2 pm
100Go
Chapman State Park4 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–3 pm
100Go
Occoquan Regional Park5 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 4 am–3 pmFrost Advisory
75Worth the trip
Leesylvania State Park6 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Burke Lake Park10 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm–3 pmFrost Advisory
55Marginal
Friendship Farm Park13 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 7 am–1 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Mason Neck State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Mason Neck State Park you need a Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) Sport Fishing License — separately issued from MD or VA tidal licenses, with reciprocity for some classes of MD/VA license holders. See the agency's current rules: https://prfc.us/sports.html

What fish are commonly targeted at Mason Neck State Park?

Mason Neck State Park is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, and 3 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Mason Neck State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Mason Neck State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Mason Neck State Park have?

Mason Neck State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use fee. No swimming. Boat launch at the park. Snakehead are abundant in the tidal coves.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Mason Neck State Park?

Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) regulations — separate from both MD DNR and VA VMRC apply at Mason Neck State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Mason Neck State Park tidal water?

Yes. Mason Neck State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Mason Neck State Park?

Day-use fee. No swimming. Boat launch at the park. Snakehead are abundant in the tidal coves.