If you find yourself in Washington, DC and in the mood to wet a line in some local waters, book a trip with Osprey Fishing Charters. Captain Rich Johnson is an expert in fishing the Upper Potomac and Occoquan Rivers and he loves to take people out for a fun day on the water.

For novice anglers wanting to learn how to fish the local waters, a day with Capt. Rich is a great start. He takes pride in his service as an instructional guide and will not only guide you during the trip but will also teach the ins and outs, helping you learn and get experience putting fish in the boat. Parent-child trips are perfect as Capt. Rich can help create a memorable outdoor experience for you and your youngsters away from video games and cell phones.

For the experienced anglers, Capt. Rich will put you on the fish and let you get after them. He will work with you to organize a trip to suit your preferences. Explore the Upper Potomac River for fantastic smallmouth bass fishing action in the summer and fall seasons. Or in the spring and early summer, head to the Occoquan River where you can catch largemouth, catfish, perch, or shad. The shad run and largemouth spawn in the spring is epic fishing on the Occoquan.

Capt. Rich accepts 8-hour trips from MAR through NOV depending on location and conditions. He accepts half-day largemouth or shad+catfish trips (either/or for half day trips) on the Occoquan from APR through OCT. He also accepts half day Upper Potomac smallmouth trips APR through Oct.

Capt. Rich fishes from a 20" Rock Proof Boats inboard jet drive. He uses Penn, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, and St. Croix equipment, and specializes in soft plastics and crankbaits. He provides all fishing and safety equipment. All you need is a valid freshwater fishing license and your own food and drinks. Kids 6 and older are welcome. Capt. Rich supports catch and release, but if you’d like to keep a few catfish or perch, no problem. All bass and walleye caught will be returned to the water.



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Half Day – Tidal Potomac (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Mar 18 - Oct 31
    US $250
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the tidal Potomac during the morning, targeting largemouth, shad, or catfish. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into a snakehead while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 7 and 8 AM, depending on the conditions. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA freshwater fishing license for this trip.
  • Private trip
    Half Day – Tidal Potomac (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    Seasonal trip Mar 17 - Oct 31
    US $250
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the tidal Potomac during the afternoon, targeting largemouth, shad, or catfish. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into a snakehead while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 1 and 3 PM, depending upon weather. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA freshwater fishing license for this trip.
  • Private trip
    Half Day – Upper Potomac (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Mar 17 - Nov 5
    US $250
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the upper Potomac during the morning, targeting smallmouth bass. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into walleye or catfish while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 7 and 9 AM, depending on the weather. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA or MD freshwater fishing license for this trip.
  • Private trip
    Half Day – Upper Potomac (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    Seasonal trip Mar 17 - Oct 31
    US $250
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the upper Potomac during the afternoon, targeting smallmouth bass. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into a walleye or catfish while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 1 and 3 PM, depending on the weather. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA or MD freshwater fishing license for this trip.
  • Private trip
    Full Day – Tidal Potomac (Winter)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Nov 20 - Feb 28
    US $375
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the tidal Potomac, targeting blue catfish and possibly crappie and perch. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 8 and 9 AM, depending on the conditions. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA freshwater fishing license for this trip.
    Targeted fish
    Crappie
    Crappie
    Catfish
    Catfish
  • Private trip
    Full Day – Tidal Potomac
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Mar 4 - Nov 19
    US $450
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the tidal Potomac for the day, targeting largemouth, shad, and catfish. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into a snakehead while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 7 and 9 AM, depending on the conditions. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA freshwater fishing license for this trip.
  • Private trip
    Full Day – Upper Potomac
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Jan 1 - Dec 31
    US $450
    Captain Rich will take you fishing on the upper Potomac for the day, targeting smalllmouth bass. While not the targeted species, you may also hook into a walleye or catfish while bass fishing. You will meet Captain Rich at the boat ramp between 7 and 9 AM, depending on the conditions. Captain Rich will provide light spinning gear, tackle, and safety equipment. You only need to bring your own food and beverage for the day. You will need to purchase a VA or MD freshwater fishing license for this trip.
There are 10 people looking at this charter.

FAQs about Osprey Fishing Charters

Osprey Fishing Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $250 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day – Tidal Potomac (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $250 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day – Tidal Potomac (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $250 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day – Upper Potomac (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $250 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day – Upper Potomac (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $375 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day – Tidal Potomac (Winter) (8 hours)
  • US $450 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day – Tidal Potomac (8 hours)
  • US $450 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day – Upper Potomac (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Osprey Fishing Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Wireless Trolling Motor

Trips booked with Osprey Fishing Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Abu Garcia, Penn, St. Croix, Daiwa)
  • Live Bait
  • Lures

Osprey Fishing Charters offers the following type of fishing:
  • River Fishing (Upper Potomac and Tidal Potomac)

Osprey Fishing Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Popping
  • Drift Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Osprey Fishing Charters include:
  • Bass (Largemouth)
  • Bass (Smallmouth)
  • Catfish
  • Shad
  • Walleye

Meet the Captain

Rich Johnson
Sterling, Virginia, United States
41 Customer reviews
Response time 5 hours
Member since January 2020
You'll hardly find a bigger freshwater enthusiast than Captain Rich Johnson. He fell in love with the sport when he was very young, and that passion stayed with him ever since. Capt. Rich fished many different bodies of water until he caught his first smallmouth bass on the Upper Potomac River and was hooked for life. He got his captain license, opened his business in 2018, and now Capt. Rich spends his free time running weekend charters and showing his customers just how fun fishing can be.

About this listing

Targeted species

Bass (Largemouth) Largemouth Bass
Bass (Smallmouth) Smallmouth Bass
Catfish Catfish
Shad Shad

Boat specs

Rock Proof Boats (Jet boat) originally built in 2008. Powered by a 200HP Mercury engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 40 knots.

Length
20 ft
Capacity
3 persons

Types of fishing

River Fishing
Upper Potomac and Tidal Potomac

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Abu Garcia, Penn, St. Croix, Daiwa
Live Bait
Lures

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
No Smoking
You Keep Catch
Customers are responsible for cleaning catch.
Catch and Release Allowed
Catfish, crappie, perch, and snakehead can be kept
Catch and Release Mandatory
Catch and release for all bass and walleye.

Payment

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
PayPal
Checks

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
5.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 41 reviews
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (63)
Full day trip with Captain Rich
Full day trip with Captain Rich
Great Fishing Trip
+60
Angler rating
41
0
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
97%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
100%
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Showing:
5 of 41 reviews
Tim D.
Frederick, MD
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full day trip with Captain Rich

VERIFIED   Half Day – Tidal Potomac (AM) on May 29, 2023
Captain Rich was awesome to fish with. He was extremely patient with my son(and with me ?). We put over 40 smallmouth on the...
Tim D. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Tim D. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Moulee G.
Ashburn, VA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Memorial day weekend

VERIFIED   Half Day – Tidal Potomac (AM) on May 29, 2022
We went on a catfish fishing charter with Capt. Rich. This is mainly for my 9 year old who really wanted to catch something...
Moulee G. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Moulee G. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Kathryn Z.
Sterling, VA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Upper Potomac PM

VERIFIED   Half Day – Upper Potomac (PM) on June 25, 2022
This was our first time on the Potomac since we moved to Northern Virginia, and we hit the jackpot finding Osprey Fishing Charters!...
Kathryn Z. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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  Rich Johnson Captain replied

Donald W.
Purcellville, VA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full day with Captain Rich

VERIFIED   Full Day – Upper Potomac on April 24, 2021
Took my grandson (age10) on his first fishing trip. It was a great day weather wise and Captain Rich was more than accommodating...
Donald W. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Donald W. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Seth M.
Arlington, VA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Learned so much as an intermediate angler

VERIFIED   Full Day – Tidal Potomac on March 14, 2021
My buddy and I are mediocre fishermen. We learned by ourselves from the internet and YouTube. We wanted someone who could help...
Seth M. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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Seth M. recommends Osprey Fishing Charters
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