4th of July Marks Free Fishing Day in South Carolina

 

Have you ever felt the excitement of watching your bobber suddenly jiggle, then dive out of sight or feeling the tap-tap-tap of a bass as it tastes the worm on the end of your line?

If you are new to the sport of fishing and not sure if you will enjoy it enough to get a license, the South Carolina General Assembly recently passed a law designating July 4th as “Free Fishing Day.”

All South Carolina residents may fish free in freshwater on July 4 without a recreational license. The legislature also included Memorial Day as a free fishing day.

All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits and gear restrictions remain in place during Free Fishing Days.

“It’s a chance for families to get outdoors and experience the joys of fishing,” said bill sponsor Sen. Darrell Jackson (D-Dist. 21), “and Free Fishing Days provide a great, low-cost way to give fishing a try.”

For those who may need some instruction before taking to the water, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a series of introductory Family Fishing Clinics around the state that will teach skills like how to tie fishing knots, how to rig a rod and reel, and casting. Participants will learn how and where to fish and have someone to fish with to become confident anglers.

Designed to introduce the basics of fishing, Family Fishing Clinics are sponsored by the DNR Aquatic Education Section and are free of charge.

Register online by clicking at: www.dnr.sc.gov/aquaticed/fishingclinic/index.html.

The scheduled clinics are as follows:

• July 14 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Table Rock State Park
• August 11 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Table Rock State Park
• October 13 – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Pleasant Ridge County Park (Greenville Co.)