AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host its annual Free Fishing Day on June 6, the first Saturday in June, allowing all anglers to fish in public waterways across Texas without a license.
The event allows residents and visitors to fish without a license, aiming to provide easier access for new anglers. Tim Birdsong, Director of Inland Fisheries at the department, said. "Free Fishing Day is an annual event that encourages Texans to get outdoors, enjoy nature, and go fishing with family and friends." Birdsong added, "Our hope is that experienced anglers will use this opportunity to take others fishing and share their knowledge, skills, equipment and love of the sport to recruit new anglers."
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Free Fishing Day. The center will host a Fish Tag Friendzy event where catching a tagged catfish qualifies visitors for prizes.
Fishing is free year-round at all Texas state parks. Guadalupe River State Park, Lake Arrowhead State Park, and Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site will host dedicated Free Fishing Day activities. The department manages 18 Neighborhood Fishin' lakes, which provide urban access to channel catfish in areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
Revenue from fishing licenses funds department fisheries programs, including stocking, habitat improvements, and monitoring. The department encourages participants to purchase licenses after the event. June is recognized by Fishing's Future as National Take a Friend Fishing Month.