Florida's Fishers, Park-goers Get Break

Saltwater fishers in Florida will not need a license for two weekends in June, and admission to state parks will be half off on Mother's Day and Father's Day, two state agencies announced Tuesday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the parks, made the announcements during a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, being held in Panama City to mark the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Licenses for saltwater fishing will not be required June 4-5 nor on June 18-19, which is Father's Day weekend. In addition, the bay scallop season will start a week early on June 25, and run two weeks longer than normal, ending on Sept. 25.

Floridas beaches and waters are beautiful, pristine and ready for visitors to enjoy, whether you are here for business or a family vacation. I encourage Floridians and visitors to our state to make plans now to enjoy Florida fishing and seafood during the upcoming free-fishing weekends in June. Whether you catch it yourself or get it from a market or restaurant, our seafood is the best in the nation, Gov. Scott said.