The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be celebrating a saltwater license-free fishing day June 1 and a freshwater license-free fishing day June 8 by partaking in several events the first week of June.
License-free fishing days are a great opportunity for Florida’s residents and visitors to cast a line into the water and get hooked on saltwater and freshwater fishing. Anglers are not required to have a saltwater recreational fishing license on June 1 or a freshwater recreational fishing license on June 8.
To help celebrate, FWC staff will be at several boat ramps and docks talking with the public about saltwater fishing. Staff will also be greeting visitors at the welcome centers on Interstate 95 and I-75, participating in Visit Florida’s Fishing Month. Staff will talk about how to handle fish, use dehooking tools, general boating safety and more. A women’s fishing clinic is also scheduled.
“We hope visitors and residents alike will be able to join in the excitement of Florida’s saltwater and freshwater fishing this year by participating in one of our license-free fishing days or attending an event surrounding the days,” said FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley. “This is an excellent opportunity to share the fun and togetherness of a fishing trip with the entire family or to introduce someone to a lifetime hobby of fishing.”
Scheduled event dates and locations are as follows:
- May 31 – June 2: I-95 Welcome Center outreach.
- May 31: Dockside outreach in Carrabelle at Timber Island Road. June 1: Dockside outreach at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge boat ramp.
- June 7-9: I-75 Welcome Center outreach.
- June 7: Dockside outreach at the boat ramp at Lanark Village. June 8: Women’s Fishing Clinic in St. Petersburg at Weedon Island.
- June 9: Dockside outreach at St. Marks River boat ramp near San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park.
The first week of June is also National Fishing and Boating Week. Thirty-seven states, including Florida and Georgia, will have license-free fishing days during the June 1 through June 9 national celebration of fishing and boating. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s www.TakeMeFishing.org website is a great place to learn about events sponsored by businesses and communities during National Fishing and Boating Week, as well as locating fishing sites, identifying recreational species and finding fishing tips.
FWC staff will also be at the I-75 welcome center June 22 as a part of Visit Florida’s Fishing Month.
Fishing is a low-cost, wholesome outdoor activity, which is why the FWC offers four days when a recreational fishing license is not needed. Can’t make the June 1 or June 8 license-free fishing days? The FWC also made Sept. 1 a license-free saltwater fishing day, which not only falls on a holiday weekend, but is during the popular bay scallop season.
Each year, the first Saturday in April and second Saturday in June will be license-free freshwater fishing days.
All bag limits, seasons and size restrictions apply on these dates.
To make your fishing day successful, check out MyFWC.com/Fishing for fishing tips, locations and rules.