Free Fishing Days by State 2022, Fish Without a License
Free fishing days are a perfect opportunity for beginners to try out fishing for the first time. If you’re wondering when are your state’s free fishing days, then check out the whole list. We’ve included them alphabetically. For example, if you’re in Michigan and wonder when your state’s free fishing days are, scroll down to M and have a look. Not all states have free fishing days. However, many states such as California, Illinois and Wisconsin have more than one day.
Of course, this is your chance to be outdoors and having a little fun and fresh air! Bring someone fishing, and make a great day of it. Children love fishing and it’s a great time for them to give it a try.
Free Fishing Licenses for Veterans
In addition to free fishing days for everyone nationwide, there’s also free and reduced fishing licenses for veterans!
Tackle Village has put together a list of Veteran’s Fishing License Discounts & freebies. Their findings in brief:
- 30 out of 50 states offer free licenses or exemptions to having a license for veterans
- 19 out of 50 states offer discounted licenses for veterans
- Only 1 state (Massachusetts) has no publicly available veterans exemption or discount scheme
When are Free Fishing Days in my state?
These are free fishing days for each state. Some states even offer free fishing weekends, where you can go fishing without a license! Check out the next free fishing day in your state!
A
Alabama
- Second Saturday in June.
- June 11, 2022
Alaska
- Youth anglers -15 and people 61+ fish for free year round.
Arizona
- First Saturday in June.
- June 4, 2022
Arkansas
- Second Full weekend in June.
- June 10-12, 2022
C
California
- First Saturday in July.
- July 2, 2022
- First Saturday in September.
- September 3, 2022
Colorado
- First weekend of June.
- June 4-5th
Connecticut
- Free Fishing Day is May 7th,
- Free 1-day license, June 19th, and August 13
D
DC (Washington, D.C.)
- May 30 – June 5
Delaware
- First weekend of June. June 4-5th
F
Florida
- First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in April (freshwater)
- April 2-3
- Second consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (freshwater)
- June 11-12
- First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (saltwater)
- June 4-5
- First Saturday in September (saltwater)
- Sept 3
- Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater)
- Nov 26
Georgia
- June 4th
- June 11th
- National Hunting and Fishing Day 2022 – September 24, 2022
H
Hawaii
- 365 days a year (marine)
I
Idaho
- Second Saturday every June.
- June 11, 2022
Illinois
- Father’s Day weekend
- June 17-19
Indiana
- First Sunday in May
- May 1, 2022
- First weekend in June
- June 4-5
- National Hunting and Fishing Day 2022
- Sept 24th
Iowa
- First Friday, Saturday and Sunday that land in June
- June 3-5th
K
Kansas
- First weekend in June.
- June 4-5th
Kentucky
- First full weekend in June.
- June 4-5th
L
Louisiana
- Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
- June 11-12th
M
Maine
- Presidents Day Weekend,
- Feb 19-20th
- First Weekend in June.
- June 4-5th
Maryland
- First two Saturdays in June.
- June 4th and June 11th
- Independence Day
- 4th of July
Massachusetts
- First Saturday & Sunday in June (Freshwater)
- June 4-5th
- Fathers Day weekend June (Saltwater)
- June 19-20th
Michigan
- Feb 19-20th
- June 11-12th
Minnesota
Residents can fish for free in most Minnesota state parks. Minnesotans 15 years old or younger don’t need fishing licenses any time of the year.
- Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend
- Saturday, Jan. 15, through Monday, Jan. 17
- Take a Mom Fishing Weekend (Minnesota resident moms fish free)
- TBA – last year it was May 8 & 9
- And, Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16)
- June 10-12th
Mississippi
- National Fishing and Boating Week, a sport fishing license is not required for Mississippi residents for all public waters, and fishing permits for all anglers at State Lakes and State Park Lakes are free!
- June 4 – 5, 2022
- Mississippi residents can fish without a fishing license for Independence Day in all waters of the state. State Fishing Lake and State Park Permits are required to fish in State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes.
- July 4
Missouri
- Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June
- June 11-12
Montana
- Father’s Day weekend
- June 18-19th
N
Nebraska
- Free Fishing Day is May 21
Nevada
- Second Saturday in June.
- Jun 11th
New Hampshire
- Third Saturday in January.
- Jan 15th
- First Saturday in June.
- June 4th
New Jersey
- Saturday, June 4
- Saturday, October 22
New Mexico
- First Saturday in June
- June 4th
- Last Saturday in September
- Sept 24
New York
- Presidents’ Day Weekend
- February 19-20
- June 25-26
- National Hunting and Fishing Day
- September 24
- Veteran’s Day
- November 11
No fishing license needed on these days! Fishing licenses are required for most people to fish in New York.
North Carolina
- Independence Day
- July 4th
North Dakota
- First weekend in June
- June 4-5
- Free Ice Fishing last weekend in December
- Dec 24-25
O
Ohio
- Father’s Day Weekend
- June 18-19
Oklahoma
- First Weekend in June.
- June 4-5
Oregon
- President’s Day Weekend
- Feb 12-13
- First Weekend in June
- June 4-5
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- Nov 26-27
P
Pennsylvania
- Sunday before Memorial Day
- May 29
- Independence Day
- July 4th
R
Rhode Island
- First Weekend in May (freshwater)
- May 7-8
S
South Carolina
- Memorial Day
- May 30
- Independence Day
- July 4th
South Dakota
- May 20-21
T
Tennessee
- Saturday of the first full week in June
- June 11
Texas
- First Saturday in June
- June 4
U
Utah
- June 11
V
Vermont
- Fourth Saturday in January.
- Jan 22
- Second Saturday in June
- June 11
Virginia
- First full weekend in June
- June 3-5th
W
Washington
- National Fishing and Boating Week, first weekend after the first Monday in June
- June 11-12
West Virginia
- Second Saturday and Sunday in June.
- June 11-12th
Wisconsin
- Winter Free Fishing weekend – Third weekend in January
- Jan 15-16, 2022
- Summer Free Fishing weekend – First Saturday and Sunday in June
- June 4-5, 2022
Wyoming
- First Saturday in June.
- June 4, 2022
What Is National Fishing and Boating Week?
During National Fishing and Boating Week (NFBW), all states offer free fishing days. Free Fishing Days activities vary by state. For free fishing day Texas, the state releases hundreds of catfish to help beginners catch a bite. Free fishing day California is known for the many varieties of fish made available. Check out the Free Fishing Days 2020 activities in your state to see how your state celebrates this fun-for-all-ages event.
