Monocacy River Fish Surveys

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Monocacy River

Regional staff from the Inland Fisheries Division with assistance from the Striped Bass Program recently conducted electrofishing surveys at two sites on the Monocacy River to assess sport fish populations. Specialized pontoon barges are used because the river is too shallow in most locations to use a boat. Although several consecutive weak yearclasses have reduced the overall abundance of smallmouth bass in the Potomac River and tributaries, smallmouth bass in the Monocacy are still considered to be abundant with good numbers of larger bass available. Bass 14 inches and larger were collected at rate of 44 per mile. Numerous redbreast sunfish as well as very large channel catfish were also collected. Fall is a great time to enjoy the good fishing available in many small rivers.