CRESTVIEW — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday selected June 1 and Sept. 1 as this year's saltwater license-free fishing days.
The requirement to have a recreational fishing license will be waived on these days for Florida’s residents and visitors who saltwater fish.
All other regulations such as seasons, size limits and bag limits still apply on these days.
The commission offers four license-free fishing days — two saltwater and two freshwater— each year. While it annually selects new saltwater license-free fishing days, freshwater license-free fishing days are always the first Saturday in April and the second Saturday in June.
This year’s freshwater license-free fishing days are April 6 and June 8.
This year’s June 1 saltwater and the June 8 freshwater license-free days are during National Fishing and Boating Week. This week promotes boating and fishing across the country as fun and healthy outdoor activities.
In 2012, 37 states had at least one license-free fishing day during this annual event.
"The Sept. 1 saltwater license-free day falls on Labor Day weekend, when many families will be out on the water, enjoying one of the last big fishing weekends of summer," a spokesperson said.
"License-free days not only introduce new anglers to the lifetime sport of fishing; they also economically benefit the state, as those 3 million anglers cited by the American Sportfishing Association’s 'Sportfishing in America' report, shop at tackle stores, purchase boat fuel and bait and travel to their favorite fishing hole," a spokesperson said. "Some of this money even finds its way back to the FWC via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program specifically to create more fishing and boating opportunities."
See MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn more about saltwater and freshwater fishing in Florida.
BE RECOGNIZED
You can sign up for a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission freshwater angler recognition program at www.TrophyCatchFlorida.com.
Those who photograph and release a largemouth bass heavier than 8 pounds are eligible for rewards or certificates for catching qualifying freshwater fish from among 33 species in the program.
DID YOU KNOW?
The state has more than 3 million anglers, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FWC commission names June 1, Sept. 1 license-free fishing days