Arlington
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $475
Captain
Owen Koch
Arlington, United States
Veteran owned
Angler's choice
100+ reviews
I have fished the Potomac River for nearly 40 years. As a DC-area local, I feel a profound connection to the river and its history. I love sharing my passion for fishing, local history, and making unforgettable memories.
Charter
Rating
5.0
104 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (208)
What anglers say
100%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
99%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
All reviews (104)
Showing 1 – 5 of 104 reviews
Jakarra Howard
Michigan, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedNEWBest Birthday Catch Ever!
Summer Half Day Trip (4 hrs) - 5:00 PM • 2 adultsWe had an awesome time with Captain Owen! We caught plenty of catfish and had such a fun experience from start to finish. My biggest catch was 17 lbs, and my husband landed a huge 40-lb catfish! He is STILL talking about it and says this was the best birthday. 😂 One of the highlights was when we both hooked catfish at the same time—mine was 17 lbs and his was 18 lbs! Such a cool moment to share together. Captain Owen gave us a fantastic day on the water, and we left with some great memories (and some serious fish stories!). We would absolutely recommend him and would love to go out again!
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThanks Jakarra, it was a pleasure fishing with you both! Glad you enjoyed your trip and I hope to see you back in the future! All my best, -Owen
Jen GardnerMississippi, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedNEWThe perfect father and son fishing trip!
Summer Half Day Trip (4 hrs) - 5:00 PM • 4 adults • 2 childrenWe had such an amazing time with Captain Owen on our father and son fishing trip! It was the boys’ very first fishing trip, and they absolutely loved every minute of it. They felt completely comfortable and had so much fun. They’re still talking about it! Captain Owen was so easy to communicate with, had everything perfectly prepared, and made the whole experience fun and relaxed for everyone. This trip was a birthday gift for my husband, and he enjoyed it just as much as the kids. 😊 We’re so grateful for such a special experience and for the unforgettable memories the boys got to make with their dads. We would absolutely love to go out with Captain Owen again. Thank you so much for making this such a memorable experience for all of us!
Response from CaptainThanks Jen! Pleasure fishing with you guys and the boys did great!
Matthew FriedmanMaryland, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedNEWGreat Morning on the Water
Summer Half Day Trip (4 hrs) • 3 adults • 2 childrenWe had a very pleasant morning out on the boat with Captain Owen. His pontoon set up was comfortable, clean, and made for a smooth, easygoing ride—exactly what we were looking for on a casual Sunday morning. Captain Owen knew all the right spots and put us right on the fish. We ended up catching nearly a dozen, and he even filleted a few nice keepers for us to take home for dinner. A great, relaxed experience from start to finish. We’d happily book another trip with Captain Owen!
Response from Captainthanks Matt, glad you enjoyed it! all my best- Owen
Christopher ShorterFlorida, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedPerfect Family Fun Experience
Reschedule from 29 July. • 3 adultsWe had an absolutely fantastic day on the water with Capt. Owen! From the moment we left the dock, he was friendly, knowledgeable, and committed to making sure everyone had a great experience. He knew exactly where to find the fish, shared helpful tips throughout the trip, and made the day enjoyable for both experienced anglers and first-timers alike. His professionalism, patience, and passion for fishing really stood out. We caught plenty of fish, made some great memories, and couldn’t have asked for a better charter. If you’re looking for an outstanding fishing trip, we highly recommend Captain Owen. We’ll definitely be back!
Response from CaptainThank you Chris, it was a pleasure fishing with you and your family! Glad you all enjoyed yourselves, it was a blast having you on board and I'm still laughing over the "post-game interviews". Thanks again! -Owen
Zach BestVirginia, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedAn awesome trip!
Summer Half Day Trip (4 hrs) - 8:00 AM • 2 adultsWe booked a half day with Captain Owen for my son's 7th birthday, and we had a blast! Before the trip, Owen was great about communicating and coordinating logistics, and promptly and helpfully answered any questions had. On the trip he was skilled, knowledgeable, and happy to share is expertise, and he was great with my son, patiently answering questions, helping him reel and hold the fish, and responding to our son's various suggestions haha. Owen picks the fishing spots, does all the baiting and casting, and then lets everyone else do the reeling when theres a bite. We hauled in 10 catfish in total and took home about 14 fillets, so many that we were able to give some to the in-laws and neighbors. It was an all around great trip and great memories for my son's birthday.
Reported catch:Response from CaptainGlad you all enjoyed your trip, Zach! Thanks for fishing with me. Hope to see you guys in the future!
Real catches shared by our community
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
- Capital Blues Fishing ChartersArlington, VA
Fishing reports
Upriver Catfish Bites: 26, 13, Eaters
Aug 25, 2026 • Arlington
Recent rain and elevated river flow has the catfish dispersed from their usual summer patterns. Found a 26, 13, and number of eaters tonight upriver. A lot of fish are short striking-- sharp hooks and smaller, chunkier cuts of bait will help.
Show more
Winter Bite is Strong
Jan 3, 2025 • Arlington
Despite the cold, there are plenty of places where the big ones can be caught. Typically, the big fish hunker down in deeper water this time of year, but will at times move into shallower water to feed, depending on the air pressure, temperature, and several other factors. Washington DC has the benefit of several warm-water discharges, which at times can be 15 degrees warmer than the rest of the river. Shad, the primary forage for big blues, are not very cold-tolerant, and so will congregate around these areas. Last trip out on 3 January found some good 30 pounders in deep water, but the 44# above was caught shallow, just ahead of a big front. Unlike channel catfish and flatheads, blue cats do feed actively over the winter; their metabolisms slow down, but smaller baits in the right place will get them to bite. As long as the river conditions are safe, it is a great time of year to bundle up and get out on the water!
Show more
Big ones are biting if you can find them
Nov 11, 2024 • Arlington
There are plenty of big fish to be caught this time of year, but you need to be persistent to find them. The channel off JBAB holds lots of fish along the edges, but the bite fluctuates greatly with the tides. Video above was taken below channel marker 7, found a similar sized fish in the morning at the bottom of the incoming tide on 11NOV by marker number 9. Deep holes south of Blue Plains are hit and miss; I found a 45 pounder in one last week but was empty a few days later. Best strategy for this time of year: target the moving tides (if you can), don't stay in one spot for too long if the fish aren't biting, and try varying water depths until you find where the fish are congregating. I have had best luck on chicken, followed by fresh cutbait. Now is a great time to get out onto the water-- give me a shout to book your next trip!
Show more
45# at the DC line
Nov 8, 2024 • Arlington
Marked a lot of fish in holes 18-20' deep between Blue Plains and Wilson Bridge, including this 45#. Did reasonably well at the top of Wahington channel earlier this week on the outgoing tide, with 11# and 21# in the span of about 30 minutes. With unseasonably warm temps, its a great time to book your next trip!
Show more
Fall bite is on fire!
Oct 5, 2024 • Arlington
River is up after recent rains, but the big ones were biting today! Lots of fish in the 15-33# range with several doubles throughout the morning. Top of the incoming tide, fish were concentrated in 6-10 feet of water below Blue Plains. Chicken was the hot bait today, but they were also consistently hitting cut shad. With water temps down to low 70s/high 60s, now is a great time to book a trip!
Show more
Plenty of fish despite the heat!
Aug 24, 2024 • Arlington
Here in DC, the fish are still scattered due to the normal high summer water temperatures. Bigger fish (20# and above) are tougher to come by this time of year, but we've had plenty of success in the 10-15# category the last few weeks. Fishing a combination of bottom and suspended baits (fish, chicken, deer trimmings) from Key Bridge to Roosevelt Bridge has been productive in depths over 10 feet. When the sun is high, shaded areas and pilings from the numerous bridges in the city consistently hold fish. Bigger fish should be migrating up above Key Bridge once temps cool off in the coming weeks- September through November should be a great time to hit the water!
Show more