Louisiana Free Fishing Weekend to be Held June 7-8

BATON ROUGE, La. (KMDL-FM) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced its annual Free Fishing Weekend will take place on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8.

What Does Louisiana's Free Fishing Weekend Entail?

This Free Fishing Weekend allows residents and visitors to fish in Louisiana waters without an otherwise required fishing license.

While a fishing license is not required, all fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions, will be in effect for the Free Fishing Weekend.

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“Each year, we designate a weekend of fishing with no need to purchase a fishing license as an incentive for families and friends to enjoy one of our state's most beloved pastimes,” explained LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth. “Please take this opportunity to make memories with your loved ones and introduce them to the great sport of fishing.”

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LDWF Hosting Additional Events During Free Fishing Weekend

As a bonus, LDWF will hold some special events that weekend to teach the skills necessary to give the best opportunity to catch fish.

These events will feature everything from lessons on bait choice, tackle setup, casting, and knot tying to fishing techniques, landing, handling and taking the fish off the hook, and more.

Here is the schedule of events:

Get Out & Fish Event

• Jennings I-10 Park
• 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

LDWF Intro to Fishing Course

• Gretna City Park
• 9:00 am - 11:00 am

LDWF Intro to Fishing Course

• New Orleans - Joe Brown Park
• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Youth Fishing Rodeo

• Hammond - Zemurray Park
• 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit During Free Fishing Weekend

LDWF would also like to remind anglers that a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) is still needed during the Free Fishing Weekend when possessing tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo, dolphinfish, and gray triggerfish.

Registration for the Free Fishing Weekend ROLP begins June 2. Anglers need to choose the "Free Fishing Weekend" option for the license type. Anglers can skip the "LDWF Fishing License Number" field.

Fishing Licenses Needed in Louisiana All Other Times of the Year

LDWF reminds the public that outside of the Free Fishing Weekend, anglers 18 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license to fish any Louisiana public waters.

Anglers can purchase a state fishing license at https://louisianaoutdoors.com/.