From the office of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Free fishing days: Bring someone you love fishing on Feb. 14 and 15

Want to try your hand at ice fishing to see if you’ll like it? Want to get your kids on the ice to experience the joy of hooking a fish?

Valentine’s weekend is the time to do it as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife promotes Family Fishing Days.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15, people can fish for free on Maine’s waterways. This free fishing event is open to any person except those whose license has been revoked or suspended. All fishing regulations apply.

Fishing, whether on open water or on ice, is one of the most popular activities in Maine, drawing thousands upon thousands of residents and out-of-state visitors to the state’s nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds and almost 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.

This weekend is the first of two free fishing weekends offered this year. The second is May 30 and 31, the weekend after Memorial Day.

“Family Fishing Days provides adults a chance to give children the same enjoyment they had as a youngster, and for free,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “If they find they love it, we hope that children and adults will be encouraged to buy a fishing license and spend more time on Maine’s waterways throughout the year.”

Want to continue the fishing experience throughout the year? Fishing licenses are available for purchase on IF&W’s Web site, www.mefishwildlife.com, at any of the more than 285 MOSES licensing agents statewide, or at town offices and other locations.

They also are available at the Augusta office at 284 State St.

For a complete list of fishing regulations, including limits and sizes, visit www.mefishwildlife.com and click on “fishing.”