Free Fishing Clinics
Free Sport Fishing Events are family fishing clinics where participants can fish for free; no freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is required. In addition to fishing, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. In addition to the Free Sport Fishing Events, June 29-30, 2013, is Free Fishing Weekend in NY. During Free Fishing Weekend, anyone can fish the fresh or marine waters of NY and no license is required!
| Region/County | Name of Event | Location | Date/rain date | Time | Contact | Contact Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Albany |
Free Fishing Event | Six Mile Waterworks, Albany | April 1, 2013 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYSDEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Belmont Lake Spring Fishing Festival (Accessible) |
Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon, NY ($8 parking fee) |
April 13, 2013 | 10 AM - 4 PM | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |
| 2 Kings |
Celebrate Earth Day | Audubon Center at Prospect Park Lake, Brooklyn | April 21, 2012 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC | 718-482-4022 |
| 3 Dutchess |
Fishing the River at Norrie Point | Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg | April 27, 2013 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC | 845-256-2204 |
| 3 Dutchess |
Free Family Fishing Day | Town of LaGrange, LaGrange Park Pond | May 4, 2013 | 9 AM - 3 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Kevin Haight |
845-256-2204 914-474-7740 |
| 2 Bronx |
Bronx River Flotilla | Concrete Park, Bronx | May 11, 2013 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC | 718-482-4022 |
| 3 Dutchess |
Fishing the River at Norrie Point | Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg | May 11, 2013 | 1 PM - 4 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC | 845-256-2204 |
|
7 |
Kid's Fishing Day | Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks | May 11, 2013 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Kurt Nelson, Trout Unlimited, Al Hazzard Chapter | 607-372-6330 |
| 3 Orange |
Free Family Fishing Day | Chadwick Lake, Town of Newburgh | May 18, 2013 | 9 AM - 1 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC | 845-256-2204 |
|
6 |
Fort Drum Family Fishing Day | Remington Pond, Fort Drum | May 18, 2013 | 11:45 AM - 4:00 PM | Raymond Rainbolt, Fort Drum | 315-772-9636 |
| 7 Chenango |
5th Annual Fishing Heritage Day | NYSDEC South Otselic Fish Hatchery, South Otselic | May 18, 2013 | Two Sessions: 9 am -11:30 am, 12:30 pm - 3 pm |
Calvin Hite | 315-653-7490 ovfish.org |
| 3 Westchester |
Free Family Fishing Day | Rockefeller State Park, Swan Lake | May 19, 2013 | 9:30 AM - 2 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Tony Prokopowicz |
845-256-2204 914-253-4867 |
| 9 Wyoming |
Free Learn to Catch a Fish Family Picnic | Letchworth State Park Trout Pond, Trailside Lodge | May 25, 2013 | 11 AM - 4 PM | Letchworth State Park | 585-493-3600 |
| 7 Onondaga |
Family Fishing Day at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery (Accessible) |
Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge, NY | June 1, 2013 | 9:30 am - 1:30 pm | Althea Heider, NYSDEC or Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery |
607-753-3095 ext.213 |
|
4 |
Free Fishing Clinic at Schenectady's Central Park | Iroquois Lake, Central Park, Schenectady, NY | June 1, 2013 | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 3 Ulster |
Family Fun and Fishing Day | Kenneth Wilson State Park, Wilson Lake, Mt. Tremper | June 8, 2013 | 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Gretchen Rae |
845-256-2204 845-688-3047 ex. 0 |
| 9 Erie |
Tifft Nature Preserve Family Fishing Day (Accessible) | Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrman Blvd., Buffalo, NY | June 8, 2013 | 9:30 AM - 1 PM | Michael Todd, NYSDEC | 716-851-7010 |
| 9 Erie |
DEC/Erie Federation Youth Fishing Clinic (Accessible) | Chestnut Ridge Park Lake, Orchard Park, NY | June 22, 2013 | 9:30 AM - 1 PM | Michael Todd, NYSDEC | 716-851-7010 |
|
8 |
Free Fishing Day at Hamlin Beach State Park | Hamlin Beach State Park- Area-1, Shelter-1- Fishing Pier (Lake Ontario) |
June 23, 2013 | 9 AM - 1 PM | Joshua Payette, OPRHP | 585-964-2462 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Free Family Sportfishing Clinic | Grafton Lakes State Park, Long Pond | June 29, 2013 | 11 AM - 1 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYSDEC or Liz Wagner, OPRHP | 518-402-8891 or 518-279-1155 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required) |
Brookhaven Town Beach, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY | July 10, 2013 | 6 PM - sunset | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |
| 2 New York |
City of Water Day | Governor's Island | July 20, 2013 | 11 AM - 4 PM | Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC | 718-482-4022 |
| 1 Nassau |
Family Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required) |
Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead, NY | August 3, 2013 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Children's Saltwater Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required) |
West Meadow Beach, Stony Brook, NY | August 24, 2013 | 2 PM - 4:30 PM | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Saltwater Family Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required) |
Corey Beach, Blue Point, NY | August 28, 2013 | 5:30 PM - sunset | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |
| 1 Nassau |
Fall Family Fishing Festival | Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead, NY | October 19, 2013 | 10 AM - 4 PM | Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC | 631-444-0283 |




