Another great (and free!) event this month is Free Fishing Weekend when fishing licenses are not required to fish for certain species in Washington. This year’s Free Fishing Weekend is June 8-9. A valid fishing license is required for anyone 15 or older to harvest any fish species requiring a catch record card (including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut) or shellfish. All other species open for harvest can still be harvested without a license during Free Fishing Weekend, including:?

Trout and bass in lowland lakes, and in the many rivers open to gamefish throughout the state. Search for a lowland lake near you and see which lakes have been recently stocked at the WDFW website.?

Lingcod, cabezon, and rockfish on the Washington coast (no boat? No problem; see our blog post on jetty fishing).?

Shad on the Columbia River (here’s where and how to harvest shad).?

Also on Free Fishing Weekend, Vehicle Access Passes are not required to park at WDFW lands, nor is a Discover Pass needed to park on WDFW, Department of Natural Resources, or Washington State Parks lands.?

Please note, even for species that don’t require a license on Free Fishing Weekend, other rules such as seasons, size limits, daily limits, catch reporting, and area closures still apply. Be sure to check current fishing regulations, valid through the end of June, before hitting the water, as well as any current emergency rules.?