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.
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.
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