In 2024, the Maryland and Virginia Departments of Natural Resources have reached an agreement on reciprocal licensing for sport fishermen in certain tidal tributaries of the Potomac River. This agreement allows anglers with valid licenses from either state to fish in designated sections of the river and its tributaries without needing an additional license from the other state.
Reciprocal Fishing License Agreement for the Potomac River
The reciprocal license agreement covers three sections of the Potomac River:
Upper Potomac River (above Little Falls to the West Virginia border): Resident anglers with valid state freshwater licenses in Virginia or Maryland may fish the Potomac River and from both banks.
Middle Potomac and its Tidal Freshwater Tributaries (between Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Route 301): Valid Virginia freshwater and saltwater (excluding county licenses), Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and Maryland Bay sport licenses are all honored on the mainstem Potomac and Maryland tributaries up to the demarcation lines. All of these same licenses, except the Virginia saltwater licenses, are honored on the Virginia tributaries up to demarcation lines.
The agreement also specifies demarcation lines for various Virginia tributaries, up to which the reciprocal licenses are valid:
Accotink Creek: Route 1 Bridge
Aquia Creek: First bridge above Aquia Harbor Marina
Chopawansic: Route 1 Bridge
Choptank: Causeway
Dougue Creek: Route 235, Mt. Vernon Memorial Parkway
Four Mile Run: Route 1 Bridge
Hunting Creek: Route 1 Bridge
Little Hunting Creek: Route 1 Bridge
Neabsco: Route 1 Bridge
Occoquan River: Fall Line
Pohick Creek: Route 611 (Colchester Road)
Potomac Creek: Route 608 Bridge
Powells Creek: Route 1 Bridge
Quantico Creek: Route 1 Bridge
The reciprocal agreement applies to both boat and bank anglers.
Reciprocal Licenses Honored in Maryland and Virginia Tidal Waters
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the following licenses are covered under the reciprocal agreement with Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) for tidal waters:
Virginia saltwater recreational fishing licenses with a Maryland/PRFC registration honored in Maryland tidal waters:
Individual annual license
Individual temporary (10-day) license
Private boat license
Charter boat and head boat licenses (covers all persons fishing on boat and a registration is not needed)
Lifetime saltwater Recreational Fishing License
Special Lifetime recreational Fishing License for the permanently and totally disabled
Special Combined (FW/SW) Sportfish License
Rental boat license (covers all persons fishing on boat)
Maryland saltwater recreational fishing licenses with a Virginia registration honored in Virginia tidal waters:
365-day resident Chesapeake Bay and Coastal sport fishing license
Short-term (7-day) resident Chesapeake Bay and Coastal sport fishing license
365-day nonresident Chesapeake Bay and Coast sport fishing license
Short-term (7-day) nonresident Chesapeake Bay and Coastal sport fishing license
Lifetime Chesapeake Bay and Coastal sport fishing license for former prisoners of war or 100% service connected disabled American veterans
Combination commercial/recreational (tidal fish license)
Private boat license
Consolidated senior sport fishing license
Charter boat and head boat licenses (covers all persons fishing on boat and a registration is not needed)
The reciprocal agreement also states that Maryland and Virginia saltwater recreational fishing licenses and their registrations are honored in the tidal waters of the Potomac River.
Reciprocal Agreements for Other Waterways
In addition to the Potomac River, Virginia and Maryland have reciprocal fishing license agreements for other waterways:
Buggs Island (Kerr) and Gaston: Virginia or North Carolina state fishing licenses and permits are honored on those waters lying east of Union Street Dam on the Dan River in Virginia and the mouth of Difficult Creek on the Staunton River of Kerr Reservoir to the Gaston Dam on the Roanoke River, including all tributary waters accessible by boat from the main bodies of the reservoirs, or from the Island Creek sub-impoundment. Note: North Carolina regulations apply on North Carolina portions of these waters. Virginia regulations apply in Virginia waters.
Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia and North Carolina licenses are honored on all Parkway waters. Note: Virginia regulations apply in Parkway waters in Virginia except where noted herein or in federal regulations.
New River: Virginia or North Carolina state fishing licenses and permits are honored on the mainstream portion lying between the confluence of the North and South Forks of the New River in North Carolina (Alleghany County) downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Virginia (Grayson County).
South Holston Reservoir: Any person possessing a valid Tennessee or Virginia resident freshwater fishing license, or who is legally exempt from those license requirements, and possessing the South Holston Reservoir License may fish in the Tennessee and Virginia impounded waters of South Holston Reservoir. Virginia residents fishing in South Holston Lake in Tennessee must have a.
It’s important to note that the reciprocal agreements only cover licenses and not license exemptions. For example, if a senior is exempt from a fishing license in Virginia, they will still need to purchase a license to fish in Maryland as part of the reciprocal agreement.
The reciprocal fishing privileges granted by these agreements are only valid for the specific waterways and sections mentioned. If a state fails to maintain the reciprocal fishing privileges in accordance with an approved agreement, the Secretary may revoke the reciprocal fishing privileges accorded to those holding licenses issued by that state.