National Fishing and Boating Week is June 2 - 10, and here's a list from BoatU.S. on ten ways to celebrate the week and inspire families and friends to head out for some fun fishing and safe boating:
1. Go fishing for free: In honor of this special week, many states offer one or more days where you won't need a license to go fishing. Go to http://www.Takemefishing.org/freefishingdaysbystate for a list of dates.
2. Brush up on your fishing skills: From learning about fishing tactics, equipment and safety, to advice and stories from pro anglers, http://www.BoatUSAngler.com has all the right info to keep beginners or experienced anglers at their peak. Click on "Angler How-To's."
3. Take a friend who has never been boating out for the afternoon: Inviting some non-boaters out on the water could hook you a new boating buddy. After you get back to the dock, send your friends to http://www.discoverboating.com or http://www.discoversailing.com where they can get a free DVD to get them started in powerboating or sailing.
4. Take the "Angler's Legacy" Pledge: The pledge is all about ensuring the growth of recreational fishing. Go to http://www.Anglerslegacy.org for more information.
5. Get "Hooked" Online: Need a little help finding fish? Do you want to attend a nearby tournament or go charter fishing? Localized fishing reports, charter and tournament information can all be found at http://www.BoatUS.com/angler There's even a list of fishing magazines just for your area.
6. Invite a child to go fishing and make it memorable: After you go out, nominate them to the "Kids Fishing Hall of Fame," post a photo of them with their catch online for the whole world to see, or create a free "Certificate of Recognition" at http://www.Takemefishing.org
7. Borrow a kid's life jacket for free: If you're not used to having kids aboard you may not have the right size life jacket. But the BoatU.S Foundation's free Kids Life Jacket Loaner program offers free child and teen life jackets for the day, afternoon or weekend at over 350 waterfront sites across the US. Go to http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation/LJLP for locations.
8. Go window shopping: Dream big and sign up for your free online copy of weekly boat classifieds at http://www.BoatUS.com/classifieds There are three separate weekly emails each for powerboats, trailerable boats and sailboats.
9. Attend one of hundreds of fishing, boating or aquatic stewardship events: Many events happen throughout the year and provide opportunities for families and friends to share quality time together while learning about two of our nation's favorite pastimes - recreational boating and fishing. To find one near you, go to http://www.TakeMeFishing.org/Events
10. Teach your kids about catch and release fishing and how to measure a fish: Go to http://www.BoatUSAngler.com/fishing_basics.asp to show your kids how to safely return fish to the water and grow healthy fishing stocks by practicing catch and release.
BoatU.S. Angler is a membership organization from the nation's largest association of recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States. Its mission is to protect the interests of boat-owning freshwater anglers, increase boating safety, provide consumer assistance and ensure fishing remains worry-free. For more information, go to http://www.BoatUSAngler.com or call (866) 906-0013.
