NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

June 1, 1998

CONTACT: Lt. Joy M. Hill (352) 732-1225

GET OUT AND FISH FOR FREE THIS WEEKEND

What do lakes Weir, Monroe, Ivanhoe, Toho, Harris, Rousseau, the St. Johns, Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha rivers, and Rodman Reservoir have in common? You can fish in all of them for free this weekend during Free Fishing Weekend!

In fact, residents and nonresidents alike won’t need a fishing license to sport-fish in ANY public freshwater lake or river in Florida during Free Fishing Weekend (June 6 & 7) in Florida. This free weekend is part of National Fishing Week which began on May 30 and wraps up June 7. All other rules and regulations, including creel and size limits, remain in effect during Free Fishing Weekend.

To encourage kids and their parents in Central Florida to get out and fish this weekend, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free kids’ fishing derby at Lake Lorna Doone in Orlando on June 6, from 9 a.m. until noon. For information call the FWC’s Orlando Fisheries Office at (407) 317- 7329.

Also on Saturday, in Marion County, the Belleview Police Department and the FWC are holding a free fishing derby from 9 a.m. until noon, for kids ages 5-15. Space is limited so pre-registration is required by calling 352-245-7044.

"Fishing is a fun activity for the whole family and free fishing weekend is a great time to either start or take up this healthy activity again," said Sam McKinney, FWC regional fisheries biologist. "Central Florida has more freshwater than any other part of the state, and much of it is accessible even if you don’t have a boat, either by bank or pier fishing."

In 1989, the Florida Legislature authorized the FWC to designate two days each year as free fishing days. Since then, these free days have traditionally been linked to National Fishing Week.

"We encourage everyone to take advantage of the free fishing days, and we hope that the opportunity will encourage them to want to fish more," said Lt. Joy M. Hill, public information coordinator for the FWC. "Resident fishing licenses are relatively inexpensive - about $14 a year - and the revenue the FWC receives from license sales is used to improve fishing in the state through, among other things, habitat enhancement, fish stocking, boat ramp construction and fishing pier construction."

For more information about local fishing opportunities contact the FWC’s Ocala Regional Office at (352) 732-1225.