Free Fishing Day 2023: El Pasoans Can Fish Without a License at Ascarate Lake on Saturday

How’s this for a fin-tastic deal: you can fish for free and without a license this Saturday at Ascarate Lake.

The first Saturday in June of each year is Free Fishing Day in Texas, and everyone can fish recreationally without licenses in any public body of water across the state. Park fees still apply if applicable.

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El Paso's Big Lake is Participating

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sponsors the annual event so that more people can try fishing for the first time and take in the beautiful natural resources we're blessed to have here in our little corner of the desert.

Because Ascarate Lake is a "Texas Community Fishing Lake," the county will be observing Free Fishing Day and waiving the fishing license requirement for the day.

The county did a catfish drop in the big lake less a couple of weeks ago, so chances are pretty good you'll get a few nibbles and bites. If not from catfish than maybe you'll reel in a large mouth bass, sun perch, carp, or one of the other types of fish you'll generally find in the lake.

So, load up the tackle box, grab the net and the rods and reels, and head to Ascarate Park for some recreational fishing.

Now, because Ascarate Lake is a Community Fishing Lake, certain restrictions apply. For example, anglers are restricted to two fishing poles each, with a limit of five fish per visit, according to the parks department website.

County Parks Have Switched Over to Summer Hours

All County parks, including Ascarate Park, have changed over to summer hours. From now until the end of September, county parks are open to the public from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.