Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Free Fishing Day gives anglers the opportunity to go fishing without a license for the day in lakes and streams. Take your family fishing for free. Find out your state’s free fishing date.
When are National Free Fishing Days
Did you know that every state offers “take me fishing” for free days??
That means you can go fishing on specific days without obtaining a license. It is a great time to “test” out fishing or take the kids out for a fun day without worrying about licensing.
Many States also play on special events during this week; such as how-to clinics, fishing derbies, boat parades, family festivals, and local Walmart events during National Fishing and Boating Week. Check out our State section to find an event near you.
Don’t forget your Equipment. It is so important to be a little prepared for your fishing outing. Make sure you have everything you need. You don’t want to get stuck outside and not prepared. Walmart offers a great variety of fishing items at a low cost.
You can view those deals here.
About National Fishing & Boating Week
National Fishing and Boating Week, a national celebration of fishing and boating, takes place the first week of June every year. This year it is fluctuating a bit from May through the month of August.
During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days.
These are days when anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license.
Free Fishing Days schedule
Alabama | Second Saturday in June. June 11h. |
Alaska | Youth anglers -15 and people 61+ fish for free year round. |
Arizona | First Saturday in June. June 4th. |
Arkansas | Second Full weekend in June. June 11-13th. |
California | Saturday July 2 and Saturday September 3, 2022 |
Colorado | First weekend of June. June 4-5th |
Connecticut | Saturday, May 7. CT offers 2 free fishing license days Sunday, June 19 and Saturday, Aug 6 (must get the free one-day license) |
DC | First full week of June. From Saturday, June 4 to Sunday, June 12, 2022 |
Delaware | The first weekend of June. June 4-5th |
Florida | First Saturday, April 2nd and Sunday in April 3rd, 2022 (freshwater) Second Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th in June (freshwater) First Saturday, June 4th and Sunday in June 5th (saltwater) First Saturday in September (saltwater) September 3rd Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater) |
Georgia | June 4th June 11th. National Hunting and Fishing Day September 24th |
Hawaii | 365 days a year (marine) 365 days a year |
Idaho | Second Saturday every June. June 11th. |
Illinois | Father’s Day weekend in June. June 18-19th. |
Indiana | First Sunday in May. May 1st. And then again the first weekend in June. June 4-5 National Hunting and Fishing Day Sept 24th |
Iowa | First Friday, Saturday and Sunday that land in June. June 3-5th |
Kansas | Starts the first weekend in June. June 4-5th. |
Kentucky | First full weekend in June. June 4-5th. |
Louisiana | Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 11-12th. |
Maine | Presidents’ Day Weekend, Feb 19-20th First Weekend in June. June 4-5th. |
Maryland | Beginning two Saturdays in June. June 4th and 11th. Then again on the 4th of July |
Consider taking a friend or family member who has never been fishing out on the water for the day.
Massachusetts | First Saturday & Sunday in June (Freshwater). June 4-5th. Father’s Day weekend June (Saltwater) June 18-19th. |
Michigan | Feb 19-20th June 11-12th |
Minnesota | Ice fishing – January 15-17, 2022. Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16. May 14-15, 2022 Moms fish free. June 10-12, 2022 Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16. |
Mississippi | On June 4 -5th, & July 4th |
Missouri | Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June 11-12 |
Montana | Father’s Day weekend June 18-19th, Mother’s Day Weekend May 7-8 |
Nebraska | Free Fishing Day May 21st |
Nevada | Second Saturday in June. Jun 11th |
New Hampshire | Third Saturday in January. Jan 15th First Saturday in June. June 4th |
New Jersey | June 4th October 22nd |
New Mexico | First Saturday in June, June 4th Last Saturday in September, Sept 25th |
New York | February 19-20, June 25-26, September 24 and November 11, 2022 |
North Carolina | Independence Day July 4th. |
North Dakota | First weekend in June. June 4-5th. |
Ohio | Father’s Day Weekend June 18-19th |
Oklahoma | First Weekend in June. June 4-5th |
Oregon | President’s Day weekend, Feb 19-20, June 4-5, and November 25-26, 2022 |
Pennsylvania | Sunday before Memorial Day May 29th Independence Day July 4th. |
Rhode Island | First Weekend in May. (Freshwater Fishing only) May 7-8th |
South Carolina | Memorial Day, May 30th Independence Day, July 4th. |
Free fishing days are a perfect opportunity for beginners to try out fishing for the first time.
South Dakota | May 8th, June 19th |
Tennessee | Saturday of the first full week in June. June 11th |
Texas | First Saturday in June. June 4th |
Utah | June 12th |
Vermont | Fourth Saturday in January. Jan 29th |
Virginia | First full weekend in June. June 3-5th |
Washington | June 12th |
West Virginia | Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 11-12th. |
Wisconsin | Winter Free Fishing weekend – Third weekend in January, Jan 15-16th Summer Free Fishing weekend – First Saturday and Sunday in June, June 4-5th |
Wyoming | May 31 to June 1, 2022 |
Chris says
South Dakota is wrong. Free fishing is mothers day, fathers day and usually the week before memorial day every year.
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Thank you for that correction.