Fishing will be free in Washington state — no license required for most types of fish — for one weekend in June.
Washington state Fish and Wildlife has two days of free fishing each year to help introduce residents to the fun of fishing. This year the weekend is June 7-8.
You also won’t need to pay for parking at Washington state parks, state fish and wildlife areas and state Department of Natural Resources land those two days. No Discover Pass will be required whether you are there to fish or just enjoy the outdoors.
However, you’ll need to know some rules even if fishing is free.
As in the past two years, any species of fish that requires a catch card still will require a fishing license. That includes salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut.
If you are heading toward the coast, be aware that shellfish also are excluded from the free fishing weekend.
For fish that will not require a license to catch on the free fishing weekend, anglers must still adhere to fishing season dates, size limits, daily limits, gear rules and recording requirements.
Rules can be found on the Washington Fish and Wildlife website or easily checked in the “Fish Washington” mobile app.