SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012, IS FREE FISHING DAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONCORD, N.H. -- N.H. Free Fishing Day is coming on Saturday, June 2, 2012, so plan to get out and cast a line with your family and friends on New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers and streams. On Free Fishing Day, state residents and nonresidents alike can fish any inland water – or saltwater – in New Hampshire without a fishing license All other fishing regulations must be followed on Free Fishing Day, including season dates and bag limits. There is one exception: you still need a fishing license and a special permit to fish for brood stock Atlantic salmon in the Merrimack and lower Pemigewasset rivers.

"Free Fishing Day is the perfect chance to take a buddy fishing – and maybe enjoy a fish fry," says Scott Decker, a N.H. Fish and Game Fisheries Program Supervisor. "New Hampshire has 12,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 975 lakes and ponds, a number of them stocked with trout, and fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoor life here."

Free Fishing Day kicks off 2012 National Fishing and Boating Week, a nationwide observance encouraging families to have fun together on the water.

For details on fishing rules for various waters, consult the 2012 N.H. Freshwater and Saltwater fishing digests, available at http://www.fishnh.com/pubs/fishing.html.

You can find lots more helpful information about fishing on the Fish and Game website at http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fishing.htm, including waterbodies that have been recently stocked with fish, trout waters, lake depths and public access sites.

The Fish and Game website also has regional fishing brochures with suggestions on where to fish from the shoreline, currently available for Manchester/Nashua, the North Country, southwestern New Hampshire, the Lakes Region, Southeastern N.H., and the seacoast.

If you get hooked on Free Fishing Day, why not enjoy the fun year round! Licenses are available online at http://www.fishnh.com or from any of 250 friendly local license agents statewide. Youth under age 16 do not need a license to fish in New Hampshire.