How to find free fishing days in your state
Almost every state offers free fishing opportunities, where adults do not need to purchase a fishing license. We've highlighted upcoming free fishing days as well as last year's free fishing days to help you prepare and plan for opportunities in your state this year.
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Fishing comes at a cost. We all know it and most of us embrace our conservation license as a tool to ensure fishing exists for years to come. But almost every state also provides a specific time to fish for free without needing a fishing license. These days are a great opportunity to rekindle relationships through fishing, light a a future passion for younger generations, or for just helping us fall in love with fishing again, when life becomes too hectic.
Below is a list of free fishing days for 2025 as well as the days from 2024 as most state’s free fishing days are repeat events that occur at the same general time each year.
National Fishing and Boating week
The 2025 National Fishing and Boating Week happens from June 1-8.
California: Typically offers 2 days per year, like the first Saturday in June and the Saturday after Labor Day.
Texas: Offers a variety of Free Fishing Days, often over Memorial Day weekend, the first weekend of June, and sometimes in the fall.
Florida: Usually offers free fishing days in April.
New York: New York offers Free Fishing Days over the summer, including the last Saturday in
June and during National Fishing and Boating Week.
Illinois: Free Fishing Days are typically in mid-June.
Michigan: Usually has Free Fishing Days in February (for ice fishing) and June.
Washington: Free Fishing Days are generally held around National Fishing and Boating Week in June, as well as June 8-9
More and more states will announce their free fishing dates as the year continues. Below we've provided a list of 2024 free fishing dates for each state. Most of these dates are recurring and the 2025 free fishing dates will fall on, or around the same dates as 2024. We will update our list as more free fishing dates are announced. In the meantime, use this list as a guide to start planning your free fishing adventures in your state.
Alabama
June 1-9, 2024
Alaska
Residents under 18 and over 60 as well as disabled veterans fish for free year-round; other residents are required to have a fishing license.
Arizona
June 1, 2024
Arkansas
June 7-9, 2024
California
July 6 and August 31, 2024
Colorado
June 1-2, 2024
Connecticut
May 11, 2024 | June 16, 2024 is Free Fishing License Day 1 | August 10, 2024, is Free Fishing License Day 2.
DC
June 1-9, 2024
Delaware
June 1 and 2, 2024
Florida
April 6-7 and June 8-9 (freshwater); June 1-2, Sept. 7 and Nov. 30, 2024 (saltwater)
Georgia
June 1, June 8, and September 28, 2024
Hawaii
365 days a year (marine)
Idaho
Second Saturday every June. June 8, 2024
Illinois
June 14 - 17, 2024
Indiana
May 12, June 1-2, and September 28, 2024
Iowa
June 7-9, 2024
Kansas
June 1-2, 2024
Kentucky
June 1-2, 2024
Louisiana
June 8-9, 2024
Maine
February 17-18, 2024 and June 1-2, 2024
Maryland
June 1, June 8 and July 4, 2024
Massachusetts
June 1-2, 2024
Michigan
February 17-18 and June 8-9, 2024
Minnesota
Residents can fish without a fishing license in most state parks year-round
Mississippi
June 1-2, 2024
Missouri
June 8-9, 2024
Montana
June 15-16 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Nebraska
May 18, 2024
Nevada
June 8, 2024
New Hampshire
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Saturday, June 1, 2024
New Jersey
June 1 and October 19, 2024
New Mexico
June 1st and 2nd and September 28th and 29th
New York
February 17-18, 2024 (President's Day Weekend)
June 29-30, 2024
September 28, 2024 (National Hunting and Fishing Day)
November 11, 2024 (Veterans Day)
North Carolina July 4 Independence Day
North Dakota
June 1-2, 2024 and December 28-29, 2024
Ohio
June 15-16, 2024
Oklahoma
June 1-2, 2024
Oregon
February 17-18, June 1-2, and November 29-30, 2024
Pennsylvania
May 26, 2024 and July 4, 2024
Rhode Island
May 4-5, 2024
South Carolina
Memorial Day, May 27, 2024 & July 4, 2024 (freshwater only)
South Dakota
May 17-19, 2024
Tennessee
June 8, 2024
Texas
June 1, 2024
Utah
June 8, 2024
Vermont
January 27, 2024 and June 8, 2024
Virginia
June 7–9, 2024
Washington
Free Fishing Weekend is June 8-9, 2024
West Virginia
June 8-9, 2024
Wisconsin
June 1-2, 2024
Wyoming
First Saturday in June
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