Family Fun On Texas Free Fishing Day

It’s almost time for Texas Free Fishing Day! Find out more about this fun day!

On June 1, 2019, enjoy free fishing in any public waterbody in the state of Texas without a fishing license. Every year, the Texas Free Fishing Day occurs the first Saturday in June.

To celebrate the special day, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), along with other organizations, is hosting many free events around the state. By doing so, they are offering many fantastic fishing opportunities for people of all ages.

10 Family Fun Fishing Opportunities In Texas

• Saltwater fishing from a pier – This experience allows families to try saltwater fishing without a boat. Public access sites can be found here.
• Neighborhood fishing in northern Houston – On June 1, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Herman Little Park, you can participate in the kick-off to the new neighborhood fishing program. For more information, visit the TPWD calendar.
• Compete in a catfishing tournament – Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens is celebrating Free Fishing Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 1 with free admission, free food and drinks and free entry into a kid’s catfish tournament including tackle and bait.
• Visit Sea Center Texas – Enjoy a free youth fishing event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on June 1 at Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson. Visitors can also explore exhibits, fish culture ponds, an outdoor wetland exhibit and a touch pool that allows visitors to gently interact with marine animals.
• Go fishing in the city – TPWD’s Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes provide urban angling access for the entire family across the state. In all, 19 Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes provide a great opportunity to catch channel catfish in Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, San Angelo, Waco and Wichita Falls. Information on lake locations and how-to fishing videos can be found online at www.neighborhoodfishin.org.
• Go kayak fishing on a Texas Paddling Trail – With more than 3,700 named streams, 15 major rivers and 3,300 miles of tidal shoreline along the Gulf Coast, Texas has plenty of possibilities for paddling adventures and angling opportunities. You can enjoy fishing and paddling access to rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, bayous, and bays on any of the 75 official Texas Paddling Trails available throughout the state.
• Become an outdoorsman in the Big Country – On June 1, enjoy various outdoor education activities for kids and adults from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilene Outdoor Adventures 2019 event at Grover Nelson Park. Participants can enjoy fishing education and fishing (some loaner tackle and bait provided) for catfish at the Neighborhood Fishin’ Program’s Grover Nelson Park pond. Other activities include archery, air rifles, wildlife education, plant identification activities, backpacking and camping demonstrations, live music, food and more.
• Explore a Texas State Park – Bonham State Park is hosting a family fishing event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 1. With paid admission to the park, visitors of all ages can enjoy fishing instruction, fish identification, fish printing and talking with a ranger. A limited number of fishing poles and bait will be available.
• Fish, paddle & camp at a TPWD leased access site – The TPWD River Access and Conservation Area Program leases private land to provide access to the public on nine Texas rivers. Anglers and paddlers can use these leased areas for fishing and launching kayaks, canoes or other non-motorized boats. Some locations even allow camping for an enjoyable overnight outdoor getaway. Find more information and directions to the leased public access sites here.
• Attend a fishing rodeo – Lake Arrowhead State Park near Wichita Falls is celebrating Free Fishing Day by hosting the 25th Annual Mark Howell Memorial Fishing Rodeo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 1. The event includes a Kid Fish and Adult Rough Fish contest. Fishing supplies such as poles and tackle will be available from the tackle loaner program (while supplies last). Before you leave, check the Texas State Park alerts page for weather-related closures.

Even though June 1 is Free Fishing Day in Texas, it is free to fish year-round at every Texas State Park. To learn more about Free Fishing Day and National Fishing and Boating Week June 2-10 at www.TakeMeFishing.org.