The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced sponsorship of the annual Spring Family Fishing Festival on Saturday, April 13, at Belmont Lake State Park. Additional sponsors for the fishing festival include the Natural Heritage Trust, The Fisherman Magazine, Renewal by Anderson, New York Life, Seaford Knights of Columbus Fishing Club, Art Flick Chapter Trout Unlimited, LI Flyrodders, North Brookhaven Sport Fisherman Club (NBSFC) and radio stations 106.1 WBLI and 102.3 WBAB.

“Fishing is a fun family activity, and the Belmont Lake Spring Family Fishing Festival is a great way to kick-off the fishing season,” DEC Regional Director Cathy Haas said. “Once again, we encourage all to join us at this year’s event and we thank our partners and co-sponsors for supporting fishing in our communities.”

“We encourage New Yorkers to come to Belmont Lake State Park and discover the thrill of fishing,” State Parks Long Island Regional Director George Gorman Jr. said “It is a beautiful park for you to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature while enjoying a fun recreational experience for visitors of all ages.”

Festival activities begin at 10 a.m. and are free of charge. Activities include open fishing, casting instruction, rod use, fish identification, fishing instruction, fly-casting demonstrations, and a fish cleaning station. DEC and local fishing clubs will host informational displays and loaner rods and free bait will be available to participants. The supply of loaner rods is limited, and participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing tackle if possible.

Children's activities include the "Spring Fling" casting contest and hands-on educational displays by DEC's Education Unit. Children participating in the casting contest also have a chance to win prizes provided by DEC's I FISH NY Program.

This event will be held rain or shine. The Spring Fishing Festival is designated as a Free Fishing Event, so the freshwater fishing license requirement for anglers ages 16 and older is suspended during the event. After 4 p.m., anglers need a valid State freshwater fishing license to legally fish. All fishing regulations will continue to apply.

A vehicle use fee of $8 will be in effect. Parking is free for Empire Pass holders. The 2024 Empire Pass can be purchased for at State Park offices or online.

The festival highlights DEC's spring trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Prior to the festival, Belmont Lake will be stocked with nearly 1,000 brown and rainbow trout. Additional brown and rainbow trout will be stocked by State Parks from Connetquot Hatchery. DEC will also stock Upper Twin Pond in Wantagh, Oyster Bay Mill Pond, and Massapequa Reservoir, along with 14 other Long Island lakes with trout, providing excellent prospects for spring fishing. In total, DEC's spring stocking program, conducted by regional freshwater fisheries staff, staff from DEC's Catskill Fish Hatchery and volunteers, will place 20,000 brown trout and rainbow trout in ponds and streams in Nassau and Suffolk counties. A complete list of DEC fish stocking can be found on DEC's website.

Anglers are reminded that trout fishing season on Long Island is year-round for most ponds and lakes. There is a daily limit of five fish per person with no more than two longer than 12 inches. Spring trout stocking begins in mid-March and will be completed by early-May.

For more information, call I FISH NY at (631) 444-0283 or Belmont Lake State Park at (631) 321-3510, or visit DEC's Learn to Fish webpage. For information about freshwater fishing on Long Island or the spring trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties, call the DEC Bureau of Fisheries at (631) 444-0280, or e-mail the regional fisheries office fwfish@dec.ny.gov.