Florida FWC Announce New License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day
Florida’s Governor Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced that Saturday, Oct. 12, visitors and residents are invited to partake in a saltwater license-free fishing day. On this day, the requirement to have a recreational saltwater fishing license is waived. All other regulations such as seasons, size limits and bag limits still apply on these license free days.
Governor Scott said, “License free days serve as a great opportunity for families to enjoy the incredible fishing opportunities that Florida has to offer. This Saturday, families will have even more of an opportunity to head to the coast, enjoy time with their loved ones and catch some fish.”
This is the first of four additional license-free days that were added to the calendar earlier this year by the FWC, the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott. The addition of these four days, including two saltwater and two freshwater days, means a total of eight license-free fishing days a year: four saltwater and four freshwater.
In 2013, Nov. 30 will be an additional saltwater license-free fishing day and Nov. 29 and Dec. 28 will be additional freshwater license-free days.
The Commission also set dates for license-free fishing days for 2014 and beyond, allowing anglers to plan fishing trips in advance.
For 2014 and beyond, the following dates will be license-free fishing days:
Saltwater
- First Saturday and Sunday in June
- First Saturday in September
- Saturday following Thanksgiving
Freshwater
- First Saturday and Sunday in April
- Second Saturday and Sunday in June
To make these events accessible to as many people as possible, the FWC generally planned these dates around holiday weekends and national events.
The June freshwater and saltwater dates fall during National Fishing and Boating Week. Highlighted by significant national media coverage and public events, this week promotes boating and fishing across the country as fun and healthy outdoor activities. The first Saturday in September is often Labor Day weekend, when many families will be out on the water, enjoying one of the last big fishing weekends of summer.
Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn more about saltwater and freshwater fishing in Florida.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
