Fishing opportunities abound this month on Washington state’s rivers and lakes, offering a great way to get outside and embrace the return of summer.

If that sounds fun, but you’ve never fished, now is your chance! You can get in on the action during Free Fishing Weekend, June 8-9. During those two days, you don’t need a license to fish or gather shellfish in any open fishing waters in Washington.

You also don’t need a vehicle access pass or Discover Pass on June 8-9 to park at any of the more than 500 water-access sites the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) maintains, or in Washington State Parks. You must have parking permits on Washington Department of Natural Resources lands both days. For more information, check WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/free.

Of course, outdoor adventures don’t begin and end with Free Fishing Weekend. Other opportunities in June include:

• Trout: The statewide trout derby continues through Oct. 31.

• Columbia River steelhead: Anglers can fish steelhead beginning June 16. The daily catch limit is two per day.

• Puget Sound salmon: Salmon fishing continues in south Sound (Marine Area 13), and Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) opens June 1 for coho fishing.

• Bird watching: June is a great month to view birds throughout Washington, particularly at WDFW wildlife areas and other public lands.

• Shrimp: The non-spot shrimp season opens June 1 in marine areas 8-1, 8-2, 9, 11, and 13; the season opens June 3 for Marine Area 7 East.

For more information about fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities this month, see the Weekender Regional Reports.