Georgia’s final free fishing day of 2024 will be Saturday, September 28 in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Residents will not need a fishing or trout license to fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proclamation recognizing National Hunting and Fishing Day in Georgia on September 3.
The U.S. Congress and President Nixon established National Hunting and Fishing Day in 1972 to recognize the contributions of generations of hunters and anglers to the conservation of wildlife and wildlife areas.
Melissa Cummings, Communications Outreach Specialist for Georgia DNR states, “The signing of the proclamation gives weight to the fact that hunters and anglers helped fund a majority of conservation efforts here in Georgia through their license fees for hunting and fishing, through the purchase of equipment that they use.
“That money helps fund the work that our agency is able to do, which helps benefit all those natural resources that hunters and anglers use, but also benefits people who don’t necessarily hunt or fish.” The conservation programs supported and financed by Georgia hunters and anglers have benefited hundreds of wildlife species, including deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles and songbirds, according to GDNR.
“One of the best ways all of us can create a better public understanding of hunting and fishing is to create a better public awareness of the important role hunters and anglers have played in conservation and improving our natural resources. Together with hunting and fishing license fees, federal aid programs have funded game animals and sport fish conservation, habitat acquisition and outdoor recreation opportunities both in Georgia and throughout the country,” sites the GDNR website.
Georgia offered three free fishing days this year in honor of National Fishing and Boating Week and National Hunting and Fishing Day — June 1, June 8, and September 28.
