How to Use Florida License Free Fishing Days

Fellow freshwater anglers and non-anglers unite! Florida license free fishing days on the St. Johns River will be held the first Saturday and Sunday in April this year and you’ll want to be prepared. License free fishing weekends this year fall on the weekends of April 2-3 and June 11-12.

We have the scoop on how to use Florida license free fishing days on the St. Johns River and why these days are important for both experienced fishermen and those seeking to try freshwater fishing for the first time.

Teach New Anglers the Ropes

Florida license free fishing days are the best time to teach both your children and your buddies seeking freshwater fishing lessons. Parents can use these days to teach teenagers 16 and over the ins and outs of fishing to see if they become addicted before purchasing a license. Those under the age of 16 don’t need a license but could be required to provide proof of their age while fishing. Anglers can also introduce their friends to the sport to see if they become hooked. #seewhatwedidthere?

These license free days are useful, as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) requires Florida residents and visitors to have a freshwater fishing license on all other days you are catching fish. Annual freshwater fishing licenses are $17 and five-year licenses are $79. You can purchase licenses at your local tax collector’s office.

How to take freshwater fish

Game fish, which include bass and black crappie that are abundant in the St. Johns River, can only be caught using a fishing pole and line or with a road and reel. There’s no limit on the number of poles fishermen can use to catch game fish. Unlike saltwater fishing, you can’t catch freshwater fish by underwater swimming or diving. It’s also illegal to use a spear gun, firearm or any other weapon with ammunition to catch freshwater fish. Cast nets with mandatory stretched mesh sizes, though, can be used. Non-game fish, which is everything that isn’t labeled as game fish by the FWC, are well, fair game.

Fish you can catch and keep

While non-game fish have no limits placed on them, there are special bag and length limits for game fish. For the St. Johns River, those requirements include just one to remember: Black bass must be released immediately. The possession limit for game fish is a two days’ bag limit that includes:

• 50 Panfish
• 25 Black Crappie
• 20 striped, white or sunshine bass (six of those may be 24 inches or longer in total length)
• 2 Butterfly peacock bass (one of those may be 17 inches or longer in length)
• 25 American eels (must be 9 inches or greater in length)

Now all that’s left to do is grab a partner and take advantage of Florida license free fishing days on the St. Johns River. Remember that license free fishing weekends this year fall on the weekends of April 2-3 and June 11-12.

Need a perfect place to stay for your fishing trip? We offer cabins right on the river and boat rentals. Grab the phone and call Castaways on the River at (352) 759-3422 to plan your perfect fishing trip on the river.

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