Fairfax County, VA · Potomac River
Mason Neck State Park
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.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish & Northern Snakehead — tied at the top (4/100)
4 species tied for best of 6 tracked at Mason Neck State Park.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 11 at 10:04PM EDT until June 12 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:48 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 12:11 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 5:26 PM | High | 2.9 ft |
| 11:51 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
Species at Mason Neck State Park
6 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 4 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Largemouth Bass Skip the Largemouth Bass trip today. In season 4/100
What's helping
- 79°F water — inside largemouth bass's active range
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Micropterus salmoides — Most popular gamefish in MD non-tidal waters. Ambush predator around cover — lily pads, submerged timber, docks, grass edges. Hits plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater across the season.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 12"
- Daily creel
- 5
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 12-inch minimum most of the year, stepping UP to 15-inch minimum March 1–June 15 to protect the spawn. 5 per day. Circle hooks not required. The tidal Potomac is a legendary bass fishery (Fletchers Cove up to Great Falls, Mattawoman, Pomonkey). Distinct from MD non-tidal rules (which have a full March–June 15 C&R closure).
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Blue Catfish Skip the Blue Catfish trip today. In season 4/100
What's helping
- 79°F water — inside blue catfish's active range
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Ictalurus furcatus — Invasive apex predator, now abundant throughout the tidal Potomac, Patuxent, and Nanticoke. MDDNR actively encourages harvest. Caught on cut bait (bunker, white perch, gizzard shad) fished on bottom. 50+ lb fish are routine on the Potomac.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 10–60 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- no limit
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): invasive, no size limit, no daily creel limit, open year-round. PRFC, MDDNR, and VDWR all encourage harvest on the Potomac. The tidal Potomac produces 50+ lb fish routinely; it's a destination trophy fishery.
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Channel Catfish Skip the Channel Catfish trip today. In season 4/100
What's helping
- 79°F water — inside channel catfish's active range
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 10
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 10 per day, no minimum size. Less restrictive than NTVA (20/day) and NTMD (5/day) — PRFC sits in the middle. The tidal Potomac also has a thriving channel cat fishery below the Wilson Bridge.
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Northern Snakehead Skip the Northern Snakehead trip today. In season 4/100
What's helping
- 79°F water — inside northern snakehead's active range
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Channa argus — Invasive ambush predator, now established throughout the tidal Potomac and much of the Eastern Shore. Also marketed as "Chesapeake Channa" to encourage harvest. Explosive topwater strikes in lily pads and grass flats; hits frogs, Chatterbaits, and swimbaits.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 2–10 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- no limit
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): invasive, no size limit, no daily creel, open year-round. It is illegal to possess a live snakehead or to release any living snakehead — anglers must kill the fish immediately. The tidal Potomac is the epicenter of the mid-Atlantic snakehead fishery; Mattawoman, Pomonkey, and the Anacostia are the best-known hotspots.
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- incoming tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 79°F water — above striped bass's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
- Daily creel
- 1
Potomac River main stem, managed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. 19–24 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open May 16–July 6 and August 21–December 31 (summer C&R closure July 7–August 20 to protect fish from thermal stress, mirrors VA's Potomac tributaries rule in 4VAC20-252-100). January 1–May 15 is catch-and-release only. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with cut or whole natural bait. Live eels are prohibited year-round. The PRFC regulation applies to the main stem only — tributaries follow MD or VA state regs depending on bank.
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 White Perch Skip the White Perch trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 6 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 79°F water — above white perch's active range (50–78°f) — fish move deep
- incoming tide — white perch prefers outgoing tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Morone americana — Smaller cousin of the striped bass and arguably the Bay's most popular panfish. Schools heavily in tidal rivers and creeks; hits bottom rigs with bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small jigs. Spring spawning run into the freshwater ends of tributaries is the marquee fishery.
Prefers. Water 50–78°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 3–25 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 8"
- Daily creel
- 10
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 8-inch minimum, 10 per day for recreational hook-and-line. More restrictive than either MD or VA tidal rules — PRFC caps the creel where neither state does. Spring tributary runs (Pomonkey, Mattawoman, Nanjemoy) are the marquee fishery.
Source: Potomac River Fisheries Commission regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
Location Info
Water Body
Potomac River
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
Coordinates
Notes
Day-use fee. No swimming. Boat launch at the park. Snakehead are abundant in the tidal coves.
Local reports & rules for Mason Neck State Park: Virginia DWR fishing & regulations → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
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 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, and 2 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.