BC offers free fishing licenses and events this Father’s Day weekend

Got a dad that loves to fish?

There’s some good news for the fishermen this Father’s Day weekend in Victoria and throughout BC!

The Family Fishing Weekend will be taking place this weekend from Friday, June 19th to Sunday, June 21st.

The annual celebration coincides with the Father’s Day weekend every year, honouring all things fishing and offering a chance for BC residents to get together with friends and family to try the sport.

This year marks the 27th time the weekend festivities have been celebrated.

‘While people may think of fishing as a solitary activity, it’s an activity that is also very community-based,” said Jenna Merth, Outreach Coordinator at Freshwater Fisheries Society.

“Kids can fish with parents and grandparents. Friends can enjoy fishing together. There is a whole freshwater fishing community full of enthusiasts who are keen to share their knowledge and their passion.”

To celebrate, the Freshwater Fish Society of BC will be waiving license requirements for the entire Father’s Day weekend, although catch quotas will still be in effect, and there are some exceptions that can be found here.

Events will be taking place all over the BC and Vancouver Island to celebrate the weekend and break entry barriers for those interested in the sport.

In Victoria, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Victoria Fish & Game Protective Association is inviting everyone to fish in their campground fishing pond, which will be stocked with 200 rainbow trout for the event.

There will also be events happening in Ladysmith, Chemainus, Cowichan and Gold River.

In 2025, 380,000 people purchased a basic fishing licence in BC, the Freshwater Fish Society of BC said.

This is a growth of 6% year over year. Interest in freshwater fishing was also strong last year, as many Canadians travelled within the country as a show of national support, the organization said.

For more information on the events, head to the Family Fishing Weekend website here.