HARRISBURG, Pa. – Families and friends visiting Pennsylvania’s popular outdoor spots over the Memorial Day holiday weekend can enjoy a day of free fishing, thanks to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).
The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend – May 24 – marks the first of two free fishing days in the Commonwealth. Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone – residents and non-residents – to legally fish in Pennsylvania without a fishing license. From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on both days, no fishing license is needed to fish in Pennsylvania’s waterways. All other fishing regulations apply.
“Fish-for-Free days offer an easy, convenient way to introduce friends and family to the sport of fishing,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “Many families already spend the day at lakes and parks throughout the state. Now they can try fishing at no cost.”
“We know that once people try it, particularly kids, they will see that fishing is a great recreational activity and they will want to do it more,” he added. “And this year, anglers who purchase a license will enjoy $1 off.”
The PFBC announced last fall that it was reducing the price of resident, non-resident and senior resident annual licenses by $1 for the entire 2015 season. This is the first time the PFBC has reduced the price of a fishing license. The discount is part of a marketing campaign to highlight the sport’s affordability to families and younger audiences and to persuade lapsed anglers to return. It’s being promoted under the slogan “Catch the Value!”.
To make the fishing experience more convenient, newcomers to the sport can borrow equipment from dozens of fishing tackle loaner sites across the state.
“We want to encourage individuals to try fishing so we’ve made it easy by setting up tackle loaner sites,” adds Laurel Anders, director of the Bureau of Boating and Outreach. “Many of the sites are right at state parks, which are always a popular place for visitors on the Memorial Day weekend. But we also have loaner sites at county parks and some public libraries.”
Click here for the list of loaner sites.
The second Fish-for-Free Day is Independence Day – Saturday, July 4.
More information is available on the PFBC website at: www./fishandboat.com/fishforfree.htm.
The website includes interactive maps, regional fishing reports, and tips on fishing fundamentals.
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