Every single person in California can go fishing on that Saturday, without a license, because it's a legal fishing holiday for the entire state. Every year, in an attempt to lure new people into the fun of fishing, the state schedules two free fishing days. This gives people a chance to try the sport without having to worry about buying a license from the Department of Fish and Game or a local sporting goods shop. And this year, because of all the winter rains that swelled rivers and reservoirs, the fishing ought to be better than ever on Free Fishing Day. And appropriately, the 23rd also happens to be National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Fishing is a very popular sport and pastime.
Across the United States, it's estimated there are 60 million anglers. More than 2.3 million Californians are active anglers. Fishing licenses are required for anglers age 16 and above. This year, a new stamp is available which authorizes licensed inland anglers to fish with two poles simultaneously in lakes and reservoirs. The Department of Fish and Game operates 21 fish hatcheries, producing more than 50 million fish each year for planting in a wide variety of publicly accessible waters.