Experience Fishing Fun at DEC's Free Fishing Clinic at Little Red Lighthouse Festival in Manhattan - A New NYSDEC Press Release

Hello,
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the following press release:

Experience Fishing Fun at DEC's Free Fishing Clinic at Little Red Lighthouse Festival in Manhattan

The State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) I FISH NY program will conduct a free fishing clinic at the Little Red Lighthouse Festival at Ft. Washington Park, Manhattan on Saturday, October 11 from 12PM - 4PM. The clinic will include educational information on fish species, recreational fishing regulations and fish consumption advisories. Free fishing gear, bait and instruction will be available to the public.

"Under Governor Cuomo's New York is Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, this clinic will allow New Yorkers to experience fishing for the first time," DEC Regional Director Venetia Lannon said. "The clinic will offer guidance so those with no fishing experience can learn about the sport."

This is a DEC-sponsored event where participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. The event is free, and no fishing license is required to fish during the program. Loaner fishing rods and bait supplied by the I FISH NY program will be available for use at the clinic and a fishing game will be available to help anglers practice casting technique. Information on the freshwater fish of Prospect Park Lake and fishing regulations will be available throughout the event. For more information about Free Fishing Clinics visit DEC's website. To purchase a fishing license or join the free marine recreational fishing registry visit DEC's website.

In support of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.

During the regular fishing seasons, all anglers 16 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license to fish the freshwaters of New York State. Licenses can be purchased by phone at 1-866-933-2257, at license issuing agents throughout the state or on-line at the NY License Center. On-line licenses can be printed from a home computer.

For more information contact DEC's I FISH NY program at 718-482-4922 or visit the DEC website.