NATCHEZ — It’s an open weekend for all of Mississippi’s anglers this weekend.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks will allow all fishermen and women to fish any of its state lakes and parks without a license this weekend.

The event, which started Saturday and will last through the end of today, coincides with National Boating and Fishing week.

“We encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of the great fishing opportunities, especially at our State Lakes and State Parks.  Fishing permits are not needed this weekend,” MDWFP Fisheries Bureau Director Ron Garavelli said in a press release.

“Our hatcheries and biologists make sure that there are plenty of fish for everyone.”

The event is open to any public water in the state.

Assistant Chief of Fisheries for MDWFP Larry Pugh said the free fishing weekend is designed to get new anglers out on the water, especially children.

“Our number one goal is to provide fishing opportunities for anglers in Mississippi,” Pugh said. “One of the objectives is to get people, especially kids or first time anglers, interested in fishing.”

In conjunction with that, here is two days you don’t have to have a license or permit, so cost should not be a factor this weekend.”

Pugh said the MDWFP hopes this weekend will encourage new fisherman to continue to fish.

“Hopefully, this will get people charged up about fishing, and if they do (get charged up) maybe they will buy a license,” Pugh said.

The event is restricted to only state lakes and parks, and other park fees are not included, Pugh said.

“If you’re fishing one of our state fishing lakes, like Calling Panther Lake in Copiah County or Lake Mary Crawford in Lawrence County you do not need to pay fees or have a permit to fish, but you may have to pay for camping,” Pugh said. “If you are fishing in state parks, like Natchez State Park, you would still have to pay an entrance fee, but fishing would be free.”

Pugh said that the MDWFP conducts extensive management of the lakes to ensure that the water will contain plenty of fish.

“We manage these lakes year-round,” Pugh said. “We sample (the lakes) and make sure there is enough fish. So the more (anglers) the merrier. Don’t feel like you don’t need to come out (because you don’t think you will catch anything), because there will be plenty of fish there.”

Pugh said they have had the free fishing weekend before but it usually coincided with July 4. This year the MDWFP decided to run the open fishing weekend in conjunction with National Boating and Fishing Week.

Normally, excluding this weekend, any Mississippi fisherman between the ages of 16 and 64 is required to purchase a fishing license before fishing in any Mississippi public waters. Freshwater fishing licenses cost approximately $10 for Mississippi residents. Non-residents must also purchase fishing licenses before fishing in Mississippi waters.