Go Fish Passes

Beginning Feb. 25th, a PINES library card can get you and your family free access to the the Go Fish Education Center in Perry. Building on the Georgia Public Library Service’s partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the State Park ParkPass program — which gives library card holders free access to state parks and historic sites — public libraries across the state are loaning family passes for the Go Fish Education Center.

The family passes, when presented with a valid library card, will be good for free admission to the center for up to six family members — a potential savings of up to $30. The center is off Interstate 75 Exit 134, near the state fairgrounds in Houston County.

According to Jeremy Wixson, the center’s manager, the Go Fish Education Center gives visitors a fun and interactive look at Georgia’s diverse aquatic wildlife and natural habitats. Among the facility’s most popular attractions are its freshwater aquariums featuring trout, largemouth bass and more, interactive fishing, boating and shooting simulators, a stocked pond for fishing and underwater habitats from mountain streams to black-water swamps that feature live alligators and other wildlife.

“Visitors can also get our tried-and-tested tips on how, where and when to fish in Georgia,” Wixson said in a news release.

The Go Fish Education Center is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“We’re pleased to be joining forces once again with our friends at Georgia DNR to provide Georgia’s citizens with another fun, exciting and educational opportunity like this,” State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch said in a news release. “For those who live nearby and for those who are traveling in or through the area, the Go Fish Education Center provides a top-notch travel experience. This partnership is a great complement to our State Park ParkPass program.”

Because of the Go Fish pass program’s expected popularity, families interested in borrowing a pass from their local public libraries are advised to plan early, as supplies of the passes are limited. For additional information, including directions to the center and opening hours for the day of your visit.