All state residents and visitors of any age may fish this Saturday without a license in Tennessee’s public waters for this year’s Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Furthermore, from Saturday through Friday, June 16th, anyone 15 years of age and younger can fish for free.
TWRA replenishes several thousand pounds of fish yearly to prepare for various events, including free fishing days.
“This day and week are annual events in Tennessee and are great opportunities to introduce children to the joys and excitement of a day on the water catching fish! Not only is fishing a great family activity, it helps make us more aware of our natural environment,” TWRA wrote in its 2023-24 fishing guide.
As noted by the agency, some privately owned pay lakes may continue to charge during the state’s free fishing days.
“Anglers will need to consult with those operators if there are any questions about a facility,” TWRA added.
This year’s free fishing day is named after Bobby Wilson, who retired last year after more than 40 years of service to the TWRA. Before being named TWRA Deputy Director in 2015 and Executive Director in 2020, Wilson served in the Fisheries Division for 35 years.
Shortly after announcing his retirement, Wilson was succeeded by Jason Maxedon as TWRA’s new executive director, The Tennessee Star previously reported.
Many organizations, including TWRA, will host special fishing events, primarily for youngsters, across the state during this year’s free fishing days. For more information on this year’s free fishing days and to find events across the state, visit www.tn.gov/twra
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
