Saturday Is Free Fishing Day

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will offer the second of California’s two Free Fishing Days this year on Saturday, when people 16 and older can try their hand at fishing without having to buy the normally required sport fishing license.

Free Fishing Days provide a low-cost way to give fishing a try. Some DFG regions offer Fishing in the City programs where participants can go fishing in major metropolitan areas. Fishing in the City and Free Fishing Day clinics are designed to educate novice anglers about fishing ethics, fish habits, effective methods for catching fish and fishing tackle. Anglers can even learn how to clean and prepare their catch so it can be enjoyed for dinner that night.

On Free Fishing Days, all fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect, according to the DFG website. Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for abalone, steelhead, sturgeon or spiny lobster anywhere in the state, or salmon specifically in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River systems.

Anglers should check the rules and regulations at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/ for the waters they plan to fish. Wardens will be on duty to enforce rules.

For more information on Free Fishing Days, visit the DFG site.

Free fishing clinics have been scheduled in Los Angeles and Orange counties on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at El Dorado Park in Long Beach [tentative] and on Saturday, Dec. 3 in El Monte [this is a Fishing with Santa event].

Other sites that held clinics earlier this year included the Seal Beach Pier, Huntington Beach Pier and Belmont Pier in Long Beach.