Gov. Charlie Crist has authorized FREE saltwater fishing this Memorial Day weekend. He wants Floridians and visitors to see firsthand that our beaches are clean and the fish are biting. It’s simple – residents and non-residents can recreationally saltwater fish on May 29, 30, and 31 without a saltwater fishing license. All other normal recreational saltwater fishing rules, seasons, bag and size limits apply.
I share the Governor’s concern about people canceling fishing trips due to misperceptions about the oil spill. In fact, oil from the spill remains far away from Florida’s coast and all state waters are open for fishing. As a fellow fishing license holder, I urge you to pack your gear and take someone fishing – because with clean water and free fishing, now is the perfect time to show friends and family that Florida really is the Fishing Capital of the World.