Passport to Texas

Family Fishing Fun on Free Fishing Day, June 2, 2018

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This is Passport to Texas

Karen Marks says Free Fishing Day on June 2nd lets you try fishing before spending money on a license and gear.

So, this is a great day, because you don’t have to invest in a fishing license. And, if you go to one of our site that has a tackle loaner program—we have over 90 sites across the state. So you can go fishing without making the big investment of a license or gear. Try it out. See if you like it. And, hopefully you do. And then you’ll come back and buy a fishing license and go out and buy some gear.

Marks, aquatic education manager for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, says manufacturers collect a 10 percent excise tax on fishing gear that’s earmarked for conservation programs, including fish stocking. On June 1st, neighborhood fishin’ ponds will be stocked with catfish for you to reel in and take home on June 2.

The neighborhood fishing parks do have different bag limits, so you’ll have to look at the signs in the park and see what those are. And then check your outdoor annual—you can look at the book or look at the online app—and check out what the regulations are for where you’re fishing. Because there are length limits and bag limits that apply. Well, fingers crossed we get some new anglers out of this. Yes, I hope so; that would be great.

All the fun without all the expense. Free Fishing Day is June 2. Learn more on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Take the family fishing on Free Fishing Day June 2, 2018.

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What better way to celebrate the beginning of summer break than to take the family fishing. And there’s no better day than Saturday June 2nd: Free Fishing Day.

Free fishing day is a day when no one needs a license on any public waters.

Karen Marks is the aquatic education manager for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

A lot of our state parks already have free fishing in the parks any time of the year. But this Free Fishing Day, Saturday June 2nd is a day where you can go anywhere in the state of Texas, and go fishing without a license. [Cecilia] So, are we talking freshwater and saltwater, Karen?  [Karen] That’s correct: freshwater and saltwater.

The timing of Free Fishing Day couldn’t be better this year. Karen explains.

I was looking at our stocking schedule –so you can check the fishing reports and the stocking schedules online—but, I noticed that at our neighborhood fishing parks that are regularly stocked, April through November with Catfish, one of the stocking dates is June first—which is the day before the Free Fishing Day—so your catch rate ought to be pretty good.

Find information on free Fishing Day and Neighborhood Fishin’ ponds on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, Cecilia Nasti.

Family fishing.

National Free Fishing Day June 6th Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Free Fishing Day is a nationwide event where for one day (sometimes even more), participating states waive the need for fishing licenses. Anyone who wishes to cast a line in fresh or saltwater can do so–freely.

This year it is June 6th.

In Texas, every day is Free Fishing Day at state parks that have fishing opportunities. Once you pay the park entrance fee, you and yours can fish to your heart’s content–while following bag limits and other regulations.

If you’re not currently an angler, but want to give it a try, some parks have tackle loaner programs. Borrow the tackle to use at the park, but bring your own bait. For very little investment, you can sample a sport that gets you outdoors and has the potential of putting food on the table.

On June 6th in East Texas, the Texas freshwater Fisheries Center offers a day of free fishing, hot dogs, soft drinks and games. In Central Texas, LBJ State Park offers its free fishing clinic for children and families. At Eisenhower SP in North Texas and Galveston Island State Park, on the coast, learn to fish and leave with a fishing fun pack and enter a drawing for door prizes.

Log onto the calendar page of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for more angling opportunities.

We receive support for our program from the Sport Fish restoration Program- reminding you that Saturday June 6 is Free Fishing Day in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.