Countywide : Free Fishing to Be Allowed Saturday

Ventura County fishing holes are expected to be packed Saturday, thanks to a California Department of Fish and Game declaration that free fishing will be allowed that day.

“You don’t need a license to fish on Saturday, so I’m sure we’ll be real busy, especially if the weather is nice,” said Michelle Houle, an employee at the Lake Casitas Recreation Area.

Anglers will still have to fork over $6.50 to put a boat in Lake Casitas, or pay $3 to drive into the area and fish from the shore, Houle said, but a fishing license will not be required.

All five of Port Hueneme Sportfishing’s boats will be out Saturday, dispatcher Paul Thrailkill said. “We’ve had an increase in reservations,” he said, with about 20% more inquiries coming in than on a regular weekend.

Thrailkill speculated that some of the anglers were signing up to take advantage of the license-free fishing. One-day licenses for ocean fishing start at $6.30, he said, with freshwater day passes costing $8.40.

The Department of Fish and Game has allowed two license-free fishing days this year, to open up the hobby to those reluctant to shell out money for licenses.

The second opportunity to fish without a license will be Sept. 26.