Every year, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sets aside eight weekend days for license-free fishing, to entice residents and visitors to experience "the fishing capital of the world" for the first or the cheapest time, in the hope that they'll return to the state and the water again and again. Some days are set aside for saltwater fishing, while others focus on freshwater.
This weekend, June 6 & 7, everyone is invited to fish the state's super-productive marine waters without having to purchase a saltwater fishing license, which start at $17 per year for Florida residents and $17 for a three-day span for non-residents (full price breakdown here). Of course, if you are a regular saltwater angler, it's always better and worth it to be licensed — all the money goes toward state fish and wildlife management efforts, and it can be expensive getting busted without one. (These days, you even need a license to fish from the shore, though that one is free to residents.)
In any case, this weekend marks a great time to introduce or re-introduce yourself to the fun, excitement and stress relief of angling. And if you're more interested in freshwater fishing, the following weekend, June 13 & 14, is a license-free weekend for our state's non-briny waters.
