License Free Fishing in Floridian Nature

Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, freshwater recreational fishing license requirement will be waived in Florida. Free fishing days are a great opportunity for parents and grandparents to take their children or grandchildren out to fish. Its also a great time for  avid anglers to introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational fishermen.

Florida has 3 million acres of freshwater lakes and 12,000 miles of streams and rivers. From those waters over 250 different species of freshwater fish have been collected. This includes several rather rare native fishes and 73 species of nonnative fish. The fish species that most people tend to think about are the larger fish that are used for recreation or food.

The Florida black bass or Black Bass is a species of freshwater  fish that displays an elongated body and is part of the sunfish family. Of all the black bass, the largemouth bass is the most widely known and prized catch. Although it is a prized trophy fish, its consumption should be limited due to small amounts of mercury within the fish. Some experts suggest only six ounces per month so levels of mercury in the body do not reach dangerous levels. The diet of bass changes with its size. Young fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton) and small crustaceans such as grass shrimp and crayfish. Fingerling bass feed on insects, crayfish, and small fishes. Adult bass will eat whatever is available, including fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, salamanders, snakes, mice, turtles and even birds.