How to find free fishing days in your state

Loading...

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.

Share this article

Share on LinkedIn

Share on Twitter

Loading...
How to find free fishing days in your state

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

Related blog posts