Catching on

California has several unique fishing programs, including the Heritage Trout Challenge and two Free Fishing Days.

For beginners

Saturday, July 1, is one of two Free Fishing Days each year in California. If you didn’t plan for tomorrow, the next will be Sept. 2. On these days, you can fish without a sport fishing license. Some restrictions apply regarding steelhead, sturgeon and salmon. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife developed the days as an inexpensive way to introduce people to fishing.

A California Sport Fishing License is generally required for everyone 16 or older except on the two Free Fishing Days.Some California Fish and Wildlife Department regions offer a Fishing in the City program where you can go fishing in the middle of major metropolitan areas.

The Fishing in the City program is in its 30th year and there are many events scheduled throughout the state and during the year.The aim of the program is teaching kids and parents to fish by giving them the tools they need to return to fish on their own. All programs are offered at very low or no cost at all.

Catching on

The CDFW’s portion of Fishing in the City is funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Fund. The purpose of the program is education, access and caring for urban waterways that were neglected. California’s urban anglers identified a lack of free time as the primary reason why they don’t fish.

“Fishing offers the perfect tool to reconnect people with their community waterways,” the CDFW says. “It is an easy step to connect healthy aquatic habitats with healthy fish and healthy people.”

New for 2023

Fishing licenses used to be good from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of each year, but now you can buy one today and it will be good for 365 days.Here’s a link to Los Angeles and Orange counties program.

Here’s a link to the Inland Empire program.

Freshwater opportunities

The California Fish and Game Commission established the Heritage Trout Program in 2017 to emphasize education and angling opportunities for California’s native trout.

The CDFW has identified 12 historic drainages in the state (with 11 different species) and by catching six different species and photographing these fish, you can receive a colorful, personalized certificate and an embroidered hat.

To qualify for the challenge, six different native trout must be caught within their respective historic ranges. All fishing regulations and rules for the area must be observed.

Applications and supporting photographs may be submitted electronically or via mail and, once submitted, become property of the state. Your personal information will be kept private.

There are no rules about how long it takes to complete the challenge. Any heritage trout legally captured in your lifetime qualifies for the challenge.

Applications can be found online at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/HTC.

It can be completed electronically or handwritten.

Since this is a recognition program with no time limit, old photographs can be used as long as the trout can be identified. The angler doesn’t need to be in the picture.

Tackling them all

If documenting six different species isn’t enough of a challenge, you can pursue the Master Angler Challenge.

For the native trout fanatic, there is the elite Master Angler recognition for those who capture and document all 11 subspecies currently recognized in California.

For the record

Current California angling records for trout. The facts regarding the catch must be recorded on the California Inland Water Angling Record Verification Form (FG 737A). Forms are available at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishinq/Records. Record forms must be submitted within 30 days of catch.