Do you want to fish in Pennsylvania without buying a license? Here are two days you can
If you want to get someone started in fishing or you just didn’t a buy a fishing license yet, two days are coming up that will allow you to wet your line for free.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has made May 26, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and July 4, Independence Day, free fishing days.
Normally, any angler who is at least 16 years old needs a fishing license to fish on public waterways, but the license regulation is waived on these days. All other fishing regulations apply.
What to catch
Among the species that are open on most commonwealth waterways over Memorial Day include trout with a limit of five fish at least seven inches long, and walleye with a daily creel limit of six fish at least 15 inches long.
The season is also open for those targeting muskellunge, pickerel, northern pike, panfish like perch and bluegill, and striped bass
The bass season begins June 8 in time for those fishing for free on Independence Day.
Fishing license fees
If you end up getting hooked on fishing on one of these days, you may want to invest in a fishing license.
The cost for an annual license is $27.97 and a trout permit is $14.97. If you are only planning to fish for a few days, the agency also offers one-day, three-day and one-week tourist licenses.
Before you head to your favorite stream or lake, take time to review all the regulations that are still in place by visiting fishandboat.com online and reading the Pennsylvania Fishing Summary book for 2024. With Pennsylvania having more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers open to anglers, the agency’s website also offers a guide to know where to fish.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors, and Instagram at whipkeyoutdoors.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: When are the fish for free days in Pennsylvania
