The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announces that the free fishing days for 2024 are today, Saturday, July 6 and Saturday, August 31

Fishing at McSwain Lake in Mariposa County
Credit: MID

July 6, 2024 – Have you ever felt the thrill of seeing your float suddenly move and then dive out of sight? Or feeling the tap-tap-tap of a bass as it tastes the worm on the end of your line? Or seeing a salmon practically rip the rod out of your hand as it crushes your lure? What’s that? You say you never learned to fish?

If you are new to the sport of fishing and are not sure if you will enjoy it, there is a great opportunity for you. CDFW offers two free fishing days each year. On these days, you can fish without a sport fishing license. Free fishing days are a great, inexpensive way to try your hand at fishing. Some CDFW regions offer a city fishing program where you can go fishing in the heart of major metropolitan areas, perhaps just a few blocks from your home. City fishing classes and free fishing days are designed to educate novice anglers on fishing ethics, fish habits, effective methods of catching fish, and fishing tackle. You can even learn how to clean and prepare your catch so you can enjoy it for dinner that night.

While all fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and waterway closures remain in effect, there are two days each year when anyone can fish without purchasing a fishing license.

On free fishing days, each fisherman must have the appropriate reporting form if he fishes:

• Rainbow trout
• sturgeon
• or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
  Source: CDPH