PANAMA CITY – Holiday visitors have one last chance to test the waters during Florida’s final license-free fishing days of the year.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Monday announced Dec. 28, the Saturday sandwiched between Christmas Day and New Years’ Eve, will be the last freshwater license-free fishing day for 2013.
“With families already together for the holidays, this will be a great opportunity for loved ones to head to Florida’s freshwater bodies and try out those new rod and reels they got during the holiday season,” Scott said. “These license free fishing days are a great way to promote the Sunshine State, while supporting our communities that rely on fishing.”
According to the American Sportfishing Association, Florida had 1.2 million non-resident anglers visit the Sunshine State in 2011. The next highest state was Michigan with 347,029 visiting anglers.
Although no fishing license is required, all other fishing and boating rules and regulations still apply (see MyFWC.com/Fishing for details).
The FWC, backed by Scott, announced the addition of four license-free fishing days earlier this year, bringing the total to eight in 2013.
There will also be eight license-free fishing days in 2014 that will fall on the same weekend days from year to year. This will allow anglers to plan fishing trips in advance and businesses and nonprofit groups to create events around these fishing license holidays.