Sportfishing Weekend, June 7-8

People throughout the province will have an opportunity to try their hand at sportfishing during the 13th annual sportfishing weekend on June 7-8.

"Fishing is a great outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by a range of ages and fitness levels," said Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "The department is pleased to offer Nova Scotians the opportunity to head to some of this province's many lakes and rivers to fish this weekend without needing to buy a licence.

"We encourage all Nova Scotians and visitors to our province to try fishing on this licence-free weekend."

The sportfishing weekend is set aside every spring to allow residents and non-residents to fish for most species without a general sportfishing licence. All bag limits and fishing regulations apply.

Licence requirements and regulations do apply for fishing Atlantic salmon.

A second free fishing weekend will be held during the winter sportfishing season.

Sportfishing is one of the largest active outdoor sports in Nova Scotia. Worth about $92 million a year to the province's economy, close to 100,000 Nova Scotians sportfish each year and thousands more visit the province to fish.

For more information, see the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website at gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing, or call the department's inland fisheries division at 902-485-5056.