New fishing and boating regs are in force, according to a FB post from the Department of Wildlife Resources. The changes to freshwater activities include changes to trout stocking dates and blue catfish takes.
DWR also announced Free Fishing Days—Try it, You’ll Be Hooked! are June 5-7. DWR explains,
No fishing license of any kind will be required for recreational rod and reel fishing during free fishing days. Also during that time facilities use permits will also not be required. To increase angling opportunities, DWR has removed the restriction to fishing designated stocked trout waters for free fishing weekend. This will open over 2,900 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. Virginia’s diversified trout habitat offers a wide range of trout fishing prospects. All fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect. DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee for Free Fishing Days weekend.
Last year, a number of NNK businesses held Free Fishing Days activities. Such events are fun and can introduce young and old to the popular outdoor activity. If your business is doing something one or more of the days, be sure to share deets about the event(s) with the following (as appropriate):
- Happenings on the Northern Neck and Surrounding Areas (Facebook)
- NNK_Life (Reddit)
- Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula Kayak Anglers (Facebook)
- Northern Neck Happenings (Facebook)
- Northern Neck Miscellaneous (Facebook)
- NorthernNeck (Reddit)
- Reel News, Colonial Beach Area, Virginia (Facebook)
- We Love the Northern Neck (Facebook)
- Westmoreland, VA & Surrounding Community Events (Facebook)
- Virginia (Reddit)
- Town of Colonial Beach Spotlight (Facebook)
- Northern Neck Awareness (Facebook)
- Colonial Beach Life (Facebook)
- Virginia Events and Festivals (Facebook)
- The Lively Community (Facebook)
- What’s Happening in Montross (Virginia) (Facebook)
- Neighborly Northern Neck Community (Facebook)
Psst: The list of FB pages+ came from (Crowdsourced) Outreach on the NNK. Feel free to use, add content, and edit.