Snakehead Whisperer Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 This just happened right down river from the boat launch that I use. What a tragedy. Current reports estimate that 7500-9000 gallons of jet fuel were spilled into the Potomac river just south of National (Reagan) Airport. Only time will tell what effect this will have on the fishery and environment in general. It can't be good, though. It's a sad day for Washington, DC. The river is tidal in this stretch, so the water goes both ways. Last night when I was pulling my boat out at the ramp I could smell gas. Had no idea what it was at the time, but now it all makes sense. I just hope that if this was due to negligence that the responsible parties will be held liable in some way. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/fuel-spills-into-potomac-river-at-area-south-of-reagan-national-airport/2015/10/30/e5180c96-7f12-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html Does anybody have experience with this type of spill in the waters they fish? What was the consequence? 1 Quote
Turtle135 Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 nothing to see here! move along! .... latex spill up in the Upper Potomac, jet fuel in the Tidal Potomac, it is a wonder we ever catch anything on that water, geesh! "Airport officials say they have consulted with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and believe that there will be limited impact on the environment from the spill" "spokesman for DC Water said there is no impact on drinking water in the city" 1 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted October 30, 2015 Author Posted October 30, 2015 nothing to see here! move along! .... latex spill up in the Upper Potomac, jet fuel in the Tidal Potomac, it is a wonder we ever catch anything on that water, geesh! "Airport officials say they have consulted with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and believe that there will be limited impact on the environment from the spill" "spokesman for DC Water said there is no impact on drinking water in the city" Drinking water will probably not be effected as it's collected above the fall line, but limited impact on the environment? It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Quote
Logan S Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 Nothing surprises me anymore with the Potomac... On a somewhat positive note...Even though 9000 gallons is a lot of fuel, the river is huge and it's really just a drop in the bucket. Just for reference, last year in the spring there was a sewage spill that was something like 5 million gallons. There is some kind of spill or accident every year it seems. Not defending anyone or anything, I hate how the river is treated...But if it's 'only' 9000 gallons it could have been a lot worse. At least that's what I'm hoping. 3 Quote
Super User Sam Posted October 31, 2015 Super User Posted October 31, 2015 Wouldn't it be great if only the snakehead population was affected by the spill and no other species of fish, birds or mammals? 1 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 Wouldn't it be great if only the blue catfish population was affected by the spill and no other species of fish, birds or mammals? Fixed that for you. 2 Quote
Rick Howard Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 At least we have a reason for why airfare has been on the rise.... 1500 gallons of fuel un accounted for... 1 Quote
Super User bigbill Posted October 31, 2015 Super User Posted October 31, 2015 Nothing like killing ourselves and the wildlife. 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted October 31, 2015 Super User Posted October 31, 2015 Of course it will have a impact.. Don't you believe that garbage for a minute. JP5 I presume.. If they state 1500 that's code for 15,000 lol Best of luck on getting the truth.. 1 Quote
Kyle46N Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Fixed that for you. Funny you say that, but it's true. I've only lived here two years and fished the Potomac for bass for most of those two years. As "bycatch" while bass fishing, I've caught 20-30 blue cats vs just one snakehead. That's fishing everything from shallow (less than a foot) to deep, from chatterbaits and even a soft topwater plastic, to cranks and lipless cranks. 1 Quote
Kyle46N Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 And yes, that was only blue cats. I didn't add channel cats to that count. Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 Funny you say that, but it's true. I've only lived here two years and fished the Potomac for bass for most of those two years. As "bycatch" while bass fishing, I've caught 20-30 blue cats vs just one snakehead. That's fishing everything from shallow (less than a foot) to deep, from chatterbaits and even a soft topwater plastic, to cranks and lipless cranks. Couldn't agree more. I understand and respect, however, people's concern about any non-native species on their water. But on the Potomac that would include LMB, SMB and many other prized game fish. I realize that these introductions are beneficial to the sport fishery, but not so much to the alewife/herring, shad, dace, darter, killifish, white catfish, striped bass, etc. The snakeheads seem to blend in to the river pretty well, and not pose much of a threat to the balance of the food chain. I've heard similar opinions from DNR (VA, that is) and fisheries biologists. Blues, on the other hand... Just this morning I caught a top 3 blue cat here in DC, maybe a new pb (hard to tell when they're so huge.) It bottomed out a 30lb boga grip with ease, but no idea what the weight was (BR weight calculator says 62.25lbs. 42" length x 36" girth.) It had to have been up near 50lbs. In the spring when I fish for pre-spawn smallies I catch several 10+ lb blues per trip, with the occasional beast (20lb or bigger.) These fish probably make up a majority of the biomass in this stretch of the river, and they eat anything. I've caught them on everything from a drop shot to a popper. This one was caught today on a 1/4oz. Johnson Thinfisher (blade bait.) Caught nice bass too on the same lure, as well as several small yellow and white perch. For comparison I'm 6' and 200lbs. The upside is that I didn't see or smell any jet fuel. There were some Coasties in the area of the spill, but I didn't venture over there to see what they were doing. 2 Quote
Super User bigbill Posted October 31, 2015 Super User Posted October 31, 2015 Don't light any matches. Unless your planning a fish fry. 3 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 Don't light any matches. Unless your planning a fish fry. You crack me up, Bill. Thankfully it was only the fishing today that was on fire. Quote
WPCfishing Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 Incompetence is running rampant.. It's not going to get better anytime soon.. 1 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted November 1, 2015 Author Posted November 1, 2015 Incompetence is running rampant.. It's not going to get better anytime soon.. Unfortunately I can't really argue with this. I'm still happy to be alive, nonetheless. I really want to find a way to make a difference with this type of thing, but it's a long arduous process, and things are seriously broken where our natural resources are concerned. Quote
Super User bigbill Posted November 1, 2015 Super User Posted November 1, 2015 Send lots of speedy dri and dish soap to wash the poor wildlife. Quote
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