Fish for Free Days Set for May 23 & June 7

Harrisburg, PA - Have a little free time on your hands? Grab a friend or family member and try some free fishing. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the only thing you’ll have to spend is some quality time together.

The PFBC has designated Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, June 7, as Fish For Free Days in the Commonwealth. Fish For Free Days allow anyone – not just license holders or youth under the age of 16 – to legally fish in Pennsylvania. From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on both days, no fishing license is needed to fish in Pennsylvania's waterways.

“Fish For Free Days provide an opportunity for active anglers to introduce a friend or relative to the lifelong sport of fishing,” said PFBC Executive Director Douglas Austen. “It's also a great way for families to have fun, create new memories and spend quality time together.”

The May 23 Fish For Free Day was specifically designated to coincide with the Memorial Day weekend, a traditional time for families to gather, and the unofficial start of many outdoor recreational activities in the state. The June 7 date is part of the observation of National Fishing and Boating Week, June 6-14.

To make it even easier to get started – or restarted – in fishing, visit the PFBC’s web site at www.fishandboat.com and select “Fish” from the left-hand navigation bar. From the drop-down menu, select Fishing Fundamentals.

For more information, visit the PFBC’s web site at www.fishandboat.com. The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities.

Regional Media Contacts – Please contact a regional outreach coordinator for more information and to set up on-the-water interviews with Waterways Conservation Officers.

NW Region (Counties – Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Keith Edwards
(814) 336-2426
kedwards@state.pa.us

SW Region (Counties - Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland)

Denny Tubbs
(814) 443-9841
dtubbs@state.pa.us

North and South Central Regions (Counties – Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union, Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York)

Spring Reilly
(814) 359-5193
spreilly@state.pa.us

NE Region (Counties - Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)

Walt Dietz
(570) 477-2206
wdietz@state.pa.us

SE Region (Counties – Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill)

Ryan Walt
717-626-9081
rwalt@state.pa.us