It may sound like a crazy question, but are there bull sharks in Mattawoman Creek??

Last weekend I launched my kayak out of Smallwood State park on Mattawoman Creek in search of potential snakeheads that may still be holding near the dying grass beds. As I ventured through the dying grass beds at the edge of one of the coves where it started into deepr water, I heard what sounded like whitecaps breaking behind me. When I turned to see if there was another boat the had passed I was suprised to see what looked like a large body pushing water and coming in my direction from about 100 yards out. I could not see a dorsal fin of any kind as whatever it was was just far enough below the surface as to not expose itself but that was definitely something very large (almost the length of my 10' kayak) moving in my direction. It changed direction several times as it approached and scared up multiple fish that started breaking the surface as it did. I paddled by tail off into very shallow water and it eventually stopped coming.

I was thrown off by it because being fresh water I assumed there wouldnt be anything that large in there however after reading reports of two different bull sharks being caught in the tidal potomac within the last few years, my theory seemed much more possible.

I grew up fishing the pacific off of SOuthern California's coast and am very familiar with shark movement in water so this again was very puzzling to me. Any thoughts?

SGT E

Doubt any Bulls would ever get that far up the Potomac. Maybe one of those big Catfish Capt Mike has been catching swam down from the DC area. I have seen some big carp and GAR to about 3', but nothing 10'.

Did you get any snakeheads?

Been fishin' that section of the River for well over 40 years and ain't seen anything like that. Plenty of water pushers around (carp, gar, otter, beaver & muskrat) but they aren't anywhere near the size you describe.

There are supposedly a few sturgeon still in the Potomac. I suppose it could be dang near anything. On other continents, bulls do go up river that far, so who knows.

I'll have to keep an eye out for that.:yikes

I would say they could go up there ,they do go into fresh water but I think this is the wrong time of year to cold for bull sharks. I like the sturgeon thought ,I read a book on how they used to flip over boats of fishermen trying to catch them in the 1700's in the potomac and here there sorta makin a comeback.We have tons of otters down here and they can seem bigger then they are and they are 4ft sometimes I was surprised how big they were when I saw ones a trapper showed us.They come out in packs too so that coulda been what it was.

A seal most likely since the fin did not show.

Seals have been spotted as far North as Marshall Hall. But Bull shark are not that uncommen to the Mattawomen Area. More in the spring around April in the pounds nets.

Capt Mike

Good stuff guys, thanks for the input. I guess ill never know for sure lol

As for the snakeheads, I had no luck. Had a couple nice strikes on my top water frogs but it was a fairly uneventful trip aside from the big body in the water. Either way, it was a great day just by being on the water.

E