Free fishing on Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, anglers who served and those they served for can find multiple free opportunities to experience the Natural wonders and waters of the U.S.

National Parks, Fish and Wildlife lands, and New York State all offer some sort of free fishing, or entrance, in honor of the men and women who served.

We encourage anyone and everyone to take this rare opportunity to get outdoor and cast a line. Below are some of the free entrance and license free opportunities for veterans and the general public across the country.

New York State

Anyone looking to fish freshwater in New York State can do so without the need of a base license this November 11th. New York has an abundance of lakes, ponds creeks and rivers and multiple species from trout, to bass, to pike and more. Not to mention stunning fall scenery. This is the last free fishing day of the year in New York and while the base license fee is waived for this one day, anglers must remember to adhere to all other regulations like species limit, baiter lure, regulations and more.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife lands

Fish and Wildlife refuges and other access areas that normally charge an entrance fee will offer free admission on November 11, 2024.

Free entry into National Parks

Our National Parks are the crown jewel of the country and all of them offer free admittance on Veterans Day. We picked out some of the best parks that still offer fishing opportunities and provided the species you can expect to catch there.

Biscayne National Park

The State: Florida

The Species: spotted seatrout, red drum, black drum, grouper and more

While fishing may shut down in much of the country in November, Florida is still going strong. Biscayne experiences its clearest water conditions during the colder months. The warm waters of the state’s south east coast play host to an incredible number of species. The park is within sight of Miami, but will offer a much quieter and more scenic view with islands, coral reefs and fantastic fishing. Ninety five percent of the park is underwater, providing fantastic, protected habitats for saltwater fish.

Most of the saltwater species are legal to target and catch. Rules, regulations and licensing predominately fall upon Florida state laws, but anglers should double check for specialty rules like a ban on digging for baitfish and fishing closure areas.

Anglers can access most of the fishable waters through several methods. Wade Fishing, kayaking and canoeing are all great ways to experience the park, enjoy the warm water and set the hook on a fantastic saltwater species.

The Park: Everglades

The State: Florida

The Species: bass, tarpon, red drum, snook, peacock bass and more

Florida is a popular winter fishing destination for a reason. The fishing is so great that only 18 miles west from Biscayne is Everglades National Park with a completely different set of species to catch.

The park is over 2,300 square miles and is a mix of freshwater and saltwater. Florida is well known for bass fishing and the everglades provide some world class opportunities. You will also find gar and the incredibly aggressive peacock bass, as well. In the salt and brackish waters you can cast at tailing red drum, snook and the silver king itself, tarpon.

Boats, canoes, and kayaks are all viable methods of exploring the park, or you can give bank fishing a try. Just watch out for alligators. Charters and private guides also run out of the park and are a great option for anyone with little time to explore the vast and intricate swampland.

Everglades, like Biscayne, follow the same fishing rules as Florida requires, meaning you will need a freshwater license, as well as a saltwater one if you are looking to fish both types.

The weather will be remarkably similar to Biscayne, making your free entrance a welcome change for anyone looking to escape the first signs of winter.

The Park: Great Smoky Mountains

The State: North Carolina, Tennessee

The Species: brook trout, smallmouth bass

Great Smoky Mountains is consistently the most visited park in the country. Last year (2020) alone saw over 12 millions visitors. November may be the perfect time to gain some peace and quiet and have one the beautiful trout streams to yourself.

Over 2,900 miles of streams run within the park and the area is considered one of the last bastions of native trout habitat on the East Coast. Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains can be an adventure, requiring you to hit the trail and hike miles into the backcountry for solitude, or at the nearest roadside riffle. In the high, coldwater streams you will reel in brown trout and rainbows, but you would be remiss if you weren’t targeting the orange-bellied native brook trout population.

If you’re not interested in native brook trout, try the deep pools of the lower elevation streams. The lower sections of the Little Pigeon River offer the perfect deep water and rocky bottomed habitat smallies prefer.

Fishing regulations only require you to have a North Carolina, or Tennessee state fishing license to cast freely throughout the park, even though the park encompasses the two states.

The Park: Olympic

The State: Washington

The Species: steelhead, chinook salmon, coho salmon, sea run cutthroat trout

The previous parks were chosen because of their excellent fishing opportunities and favorable weather, this time of year. Olympic is chosen despite its November weather.

Under a canopy of moss covered old growth forests, under a near permanent cloud of rain and with numb fingers you can still cast for some of the most amazing species. Steelhead and salmon runs are a shadow of the past, but the opportunity to experience the tug of one of these sea-run fish is still available and should be experienced by every angler. Most freshwater anglers will never feel anything close to the fighting power a coastal salmon, or steelhead provides.

The main river systems running through the park like the Quinault, the Hoh, the Quillayute, Bogachiel and the Sol Duc, are all breathtaking bodies of emerald green, glacial fed waters that meander under green arches of moss.

Each river has its own regulations which need to be assessed before fishing and some run through tribal land and may have specific tribal regulations.

Outside of the rivers, the park is also full of trout rich lakes and you can even fish the beaches of the Pacific.

A Washington fishing license is not required to fish in the Park unless you are fishing the ocean, but if you are looking to go head to head with salmon, or steelhead you will need a free report card.

Enjoy this rare opportunity of free entry into America’s National Parks this November and when you do, make sure to thank, or appreciate, the Veterans who sacrificed to make these opportunities possible.