CDFW News

Line Up Some Summer Fun on Free Fishing Days

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:56:43 GMT

Summer is in full swing and that means pool parties, barbecues, camping trips and Free Fishing Days!

This year you can catch an opportunity to fish throughout California without a fishing license on two Free Fishing Days — Saturday, July 5, and Saturday, Aug. 30 — and you might also catch a rainbow trout, largemouth bass or Kokanee salmon. It’s a great excuse to relax next to a beautiful lake or river and enjoy the great outdoors, and you might go home with tasty fish to throw on the grill.

For those new to fishing, this is a chance to explore a rewarding and exciting new hobby. For licensed anglers, this is a chance to introduce or reintroduce someone else to the joys of becoming an angler. Free fishing days are also a perfect time for former anglers to return and reconnect to the activity.

Children 15 and younger can fish for free every day of the year in California, but Free Fishing Days offer a time when families and friends can experience the hobby together.

Those interested in fishing California’s lakes, streams and rivers can find information aboutinland fishing locations and species on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website. Information is also available about year-round free fishing opportunities found on specific piers, jetties and breakwaters along the coast. Other helpful tools for anglers include the fish planting schedule, fishing guide and Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) Program resources.

A variety of offerings are also available from CDFW’s Fishing in the City program, which focuses on teaching Californians how and where to fish in metropolitan areas. General information about the Fishing in the City program can be found on the CDFW website.

Dozens of bodies of water across the Golden State await anglers with catchable-size trout recently stocked by CDFW hatcheries staff.

Some of those waters include Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, Stoney Creek in Tulare County, Shaver Lake in Fresno County, Silver Lake in Amador County, Lake Almanor in Plumas County and Burney Creek in Shasta County.

All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. CDFW encourages potential anglers to check rules and regulations for each water they plan to fish.

For new anglers who get “hooked” on fishing, be sure to purchase an annual sport fishing license. Revenue generated from license sales helps conserve fish populations and habitats while supporting California's longstanding angling opportunities for future generations. Annual sport fishing licenses are now valid for a full 365-days from purchase. More information on licenses, validations and fees can be found on CDFW’s sport fishing licenses web page.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Initiative, (916) 203-1362

Free Fishing Day is on the Way as Summer’s End Nears

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:53:38 GMT

There’s one last chance this year to cast your line into a California river, lake or bay without a fishing license, and that’s Saturday, Aug. 31.

On Free Fishing Day the public can fish throughout the state with no fishing license required. Earlier this summer on July 6 unlicensed anglers enjoyed the first of the two Free Fishing Days.

Free Fishing Day is a low-cost opportunity to give a new hobby a try. For licensed anglers, it’s a great time to introduce or reintroduce someone to the joys of the sport of fishing — watching that bobber suddenly jiggle, then dive out of sight; feeling the tap-tap-tap of a bass as it takes the worm on the end of the line; or netting a big trout as it’s reeled into the boat.

Free fishing days are also a perfect time for former anglers to dust off their fishing poles and tackle and reconnect to the activity.

Children 15 and younger can fish for free every day of the year in California, but Free Fishing Days offer a time when families and friends can experience the hobby together.

Those interested in fishing California’s lakes, streams and rivers can find information about inland fishing locations and species on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website. Information is also available about year-round free fishing opportunities found on specific piers, jetties and breakwaters along the coast. Other helpful tools for anglers include Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) Program resources, the fishing guide and the fish planting schedule.

Bodies of water across the Golden State await anglers with catchable-size fish stocked by CDFW hatcheries staff.

Some of those waters include the Owens River in Inyo County, Reyes Creek in Ventura County, San Joaquin River in Madera County, Huntington Lake in Fresno County, Twin Lakes in Mono County, Halsey Forebay in Placer County, Lake Davis in Plumas County and Baum Lake in Shasta County.

CDFW encourages potential anglers to check rules and regulations for each water they plan to fish. All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect.

For new anglers “reeled” into the sport of fishing, it’s easy to purchase a sport fishing license online. Revenue generated from license sales helps conserve fish populations and habitats while supporting California's longstanding angling opportunities for future generations. Annual sport fishing licenses are now valid 365 days from the date of purchase. More information on licenses, validations and fees can be found on CDFW’s sport fishing licenses web page.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Manager, (916) 203-1362

Free Fishing Day: Get Hooked on a New Adventure

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:18:37 GMT

The first of California’s two free fishing days in 2024 is coming up following the Independence Day holiday.

On free fishing days — which land on Saturday, July 6, and Saturday, Aug. 31 — the public can fish throughout the Golden State without a fishing license.

For those new to fishing, this is an opportunity to explore a rewarding and exciting new hobby. For licensed anglers, this is an opportunity to introduce or reintroduce someone else to the joys of becoming an angler. Free fishing days are also a perfect time for former anglers to return and reconnect to the activity.

Those interested in fishing California’s lakes, streams and rivers can find information about inland fishing locations and species on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website. Information is also available about year-round free fishing opportunities found on specific piers, jetties and breakwaters along the coast. Other helpful tools for anglers include the fish planting schedule, fishing guide and Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) Program resources.

Children 15 and younger can fish for free every day of the year in California, but Free Fishing Days offer a time when families and friends can experience the hobby together.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Program, (916) 203-1362

Cast a Line on California’s Second Free Fishing Day

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:44:43 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is encouraging Californians to get outdoors and give fishing a try for free on California’s second 2023 Free Fishing Day, Saturday, Sept. 2.

Free Fishing Days are a great opportunity to enjoy one of California’s most popular pastimes and to get introduced to fishing at no cost. Those interested in fishing in California’s lakes, streams and rivers can find information about inland fishing locations and species on the CDFW website. Information is also available about year-round free fishing opportunities found on specific piers, jetties and breakwaters along the coast, to help with planning pier fishing adventures. Other helpful tools for anglers include the fish planting schedule, fishing guide and various Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) Program resources.

Virtual offerings are also available from CDFW’s Fishing in the City program, which focuses on teaching Californians how and where to fish in metropolitan areas. General information about the Fishing in the City program can be found on the CDFW website.

Children 15 and younger can fish for free every day of the year in California, but Free Fishing Days offer a time when families and friends can experience the hobby together. As a licensed angler, utilize Free Fishing Days as an opportunity to introduce non-angling friends to fishing and the outdoors.

CDFW hopes more Californians get “hooked” on fishing. If that happens, be sure to purchase an annual resident sport fishing license. Beginning in 2023, annual sport fishing licenses are valid for a full 365 days from the date of purchase. The revenue generated from license sales helps conserve fish populations and habitats while supporting California's longstanding angling opportunities for future generations.

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Media Contacts:
Amanda McDermott, CDFW Communications, (916) 738-9641
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Program, (916) 203-1362

CDFW Hosts In-Person Beginner Fishing Clinics for California’s Second Free Fishing Day

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:25:12 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is encouraging all Californians to get outdoors and give fishing a try for free on California’s second Free Fishing Day, Saturday, Sept. 3.

For this second, and last, Free Fishing Day of 2022, CDFW’s Fishing in the City program is offering the opportunity to learn fishing techniques and skills from department experts at in-person beginner fishing clinics in the Sacramento and Eastern Sierra areas.

In-person events will be held at Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova and all ages are welcome. You can register for these events on CDFW’s Fishing in the City – Sacramento Metro Area web page.

The Eastern Sierra events will happen at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop. You can find more information at CDFW’s Fishing in the City – Eastern Sierra web page.

Anglers residing in areas outside of where in-person events are happening, are welcome to cast a line in their choice of water body. Please check the rules and regulations for the waters you plan to fish, and read up on recommendations for fishing during a drought. You’re also invited to participate in virtual offerings from Fishing in the City, a program that allows Californians to learn to fish in metropolitan areas. General information about the Fishing in the City program can be found on the CDFW website.

All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements and fishing hours and stream closures, remain in effect. Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state, or for salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.

Those interested in fishing in California’s lakes, streams and rivers can find information about inland fishing locations and species on the CDFW website. Information about ocean fishing, including spots along California beaches, is also available on the website. A list of free fishing piers and a zoomable map of pier locations is also available to help you plan a pier fishing adventure. It is free to fish certain piers, jetties or breakwaters along the coast year-round in California, but Free Fishing Days are a great time to be introduced to fishing for perch, greenling, rockfish and bass.

Other helpful resources for anglers include the fish planting schedule and fishing guide.

The Saturday of Labor Day weekend is typically reserved as California’s second Free Fishing Day of the year, with the Saturday of Fourth of July weekend being the first (July 2 in 2022).

Children 16 and younger can fish for free every day of the year in California, but Free Fishing Day offers a time when families and friends can experience the hobby together because those 17 and older can fish without having to buy a sport fishing license. Free Fishing Days also provide an easy opportunity for licensed anglers to introduce non-angling friends to fishing and the outdoors.

Don’t miss out on the final day of 2022 for free fishing! This is a great opportunity to use that beginner’s luck and enjoy one of California’s most popular pastimes. If you get “hooked” on fishing, be sure to purchase an annual resident sport fishing license. The revenue generated from license sales helps conserve our fish populations and habitats while supporting California's longstanding angling opportunities for today and future generations.

Photo Credit: Rh2010 / stock.adobe.com

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Media Contacts:
Leticia Palamidessi, CDFW Communications, (916) 708-8517
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714