New Dates For Free Fishing Day -- Fourth of July and Labor Day

Contacts:

Kyle Orr, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 322-8958
David Moore, Interpretive Services Supervisor, DFG Bay Delta Region, (707) 766-8380
Ethan Rotman, Fishing in the City, San Francisco Bay Area, (415) 892-0460
Joe Ferreira, Fishing in the City, Sacramento area, (916), 358-1644
Brian Young, Fishing in the City, Southern California area, (562) 342-7148

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) today announced new dates for Free Fishing Day in 2009. Free Fishing Days will be the Fourth of July and Labor Day, Sept. 7 when DFG will waive the license requirement for citizens 16 or older. On those days people will have the opportunity to fish on all freshwater and ocean waters in California.

"There are fish in many California waterways and urban lakes that can make a very fun day for beginning anglers and experienced hands alike," said David Moore, DFG Interpretive Services Supervisor. "For those out camping near rivers or recreating at some of our state's large reservoirs, Free Fishing Day on both the Fourth of July and Labor Day offers a great opportunity for families to enjoy a hands-on experience with nature."

All other fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. On Free Fishing Days, anglers also must have the appropriate report card if they are fishing for salmon in the Klamath-Trinity River System, or for abalone, steelhead, sturgeon or spiny lobster.

The state features more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers. It also has more than 1,100 miles of coastline and hundreds of native fish and shell fish species.

DFG offers several fishing-related programs designed to help people enjoy one of the nation's most popular outdoor sports.

For novice anglers, DFG offers Fishing in the City, part of the Urban Fishing Program. Since 1993, Fishing in the City has provided fishing opportunities to Californians living in the Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. Fishing in the City clinics teach youths how to fish and provide an opportunity to fish close to home. DFG stocks dozens of ponds with trout in winter and catfish the rest of the year. More information is available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishinginthecity/index.html.

Free Fishing Day can also introduce anglers to DFG's new fishing incentive and angler recognition program called the California Fishing Passport program. The Passport program is for people of all ages and skill levels. Anglers are encouraged to catch all of the different sport fish species in the state and can use the passport booklet as a guide. More than 150 of the most commonly caught species of freshwater fish, saltwater fish and shellfish species found in California are included as part of the Passport Challenge. More information is available at www.fishingpassport.org.