
June 1, 2014, kicks off the yearly, weeklong celebration known as National Fishing and Boating Week. Each year during NFBW, boating and fishing organizations and enthusiasts alike work to extol the benefits of recreational boating and fishing on environmental preservation and quality of life.
Why should you choose boating and fishing?
- De-stress: Boating is ranked as one of the top three of all stress-relieving activities
- Connect with nature: 90 percent of Americans live within an hour of navigable water
- Help conserve: The funds from your fishing licenses and boat registrations go toward the conservation of our natural aquatic areas
Want to go boating and fishing during NFBW? Here are some great ways to get started:
Try fishing for the first time. Many states offer free fishing days that coincide with NFBW. These days allow individuals to fish without having to purchase a fishing license. What better time to try out fishing than when it’s free? For a full list of states’ free fishing days, visit TakeMeFishing.org. Make sure to check out the “How to Fish” section on TakeMeFishing.org so you can learn all of the basics before you head out on the water.
Attend an event. Besides free fishing days, many states hold special events during NFBW. These events may include boat parades, fishing derbies, family festivals and how-to clinics. Head to the Events Page on TakeMeFishing.org to find events close to you.
Mentor a new angler or boater. Use the week as an opportunity to get someone new out on the water. NFBW offers an excellent chance to mentor a new angler or boater and teach him or her the importance of the activities and their benefits both to the environment and the public. Teach them to hook their first fish and they may just be hooked for life.
Promote fishing and boating. Use NFBW as a way to show your friends and family how important fishing and boating is to you! On social media, you can use the #NFBW hashtag to tag your tweets, pictures and posts in celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week. You also can share photos of your big catch or your relaxing day on the boat with us by adding them to the Big Catch Photo Gallery.
Celebrate conservation. By simply participating in the activities of fishing and boating, you are helping to conserve your local and national waterways. A portion of every fishing license, boat registration and boating and fishing equipment sale goes toward keeping our waterways clean, safe and full of great fishing through the Sport Fish Restoration Program.
Want to find even more ways to get involved? Visit TakeMeFishing.org/nfbw for ideas.