2023 Free Fishing Days
Fishing is a beloved pastime for many, and many states offer “free fishing days” where residents and visitors can fish without a license. These days are a great opportunity for people to try out fishing for the first time, or for experienced anglers to introduce a friend or family member to the sport.
Each state offers their own rules and regulations when it comes to fishing, so please check each state for their individual regulations.
This list is provided by the American Sportfishing Association and TakeMeFishing.org
| Alabama | Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days AL |
| Alaska | Youth anglers 15 and under and anglers 61 and older fish for free year-round. More info about Free Fishing Days AK |
| Arizona | First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days AZ |
| Arkansas | Second full weekend in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days AR |
| California | Saturday July 1 and Saturday September 2, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days CA |
| Colorado | June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days CO |
| Connecticut | Saturday, May 13 & June 18, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days CT |
| DC | June 10-11, 2023 |
| Delaware | First full weekend of June. June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days DE |
| Florida | First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in April (freshwater) April 1-2 Second consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (freshwater) June 3-4 First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June (saltwater) June 3-4 First Saturday in September (saltwater) September 2 Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater) November 25 More info about Free Fishing Days FL |
| Georgia | June 5, June 12 National Hunting and Fishing day September 23, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days GA |
| Hawaii | 365 days a year (marine) More info about Free Fishing Days HI |
| Idaho | Second Saturday every June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days ID |
| Illinois | Father’s Day weekend in June. June 17-18, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days IL |
| Indiana | May 7, June 3-4 National Public Lands Day September 23, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days IN |
| Iowa | Free Fishing Weekend is the first Friday – Sunday that falls in June (June 2-4, 2023). More info about Free Fishing Days IA |
| Kansas | June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days KS |
| Kentucky | June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days KY |
| Louisiana | Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days LA |
| Maine | Feb 18-19 and June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days ME |
| Maryland | June 3, June 10, July 4 Independence Day, 2023. Year-round License-free fishing areas throughout the tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay More info about Free Fishing Days MD |
| Massachusetts | Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend is June 3-4, 2023 Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 17-18, 2023. More info about Free Fishing Days MA |
| Michigan | The winter weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day weekend and the summer weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June Winter: Feb 18-19, 2023 Summer: June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days MI |
| Minnesota | Jan. 14-16, 2023 – MN Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend (MN residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16) May 13-14, 2023 – Take a Mom Fishing Weekend (Minnesota resident moms fish free) June 9-11, 2023 – Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16) More info about Free Fishing Days MN |
| Mississippi | On June 5 and 6, 2023, during 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! Mississippi residents can fish without a fishing license on July 4th 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 on July 4. More info about Free Fishing Days MS |
| Missouri | Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days MO |
| Montana | Father’s Day weekend. June 17-18, 2023 Mothers Day Weekend May 7-8 More info about Free Fishing Days MT |
| Nebraska | Free Fishing/Free Park Entry Day on Saturday, May 20, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NE |
| Nevada | Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NV |
| New Hampshire | Third Saturday in January. Jan 21, 2023 First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NH |
| New Jersey | June 3 and October 21, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NJ |
| New Mexico | First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023 Last Saturday in September. September 30, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days NM |
| New York | February 18 & 19, 2023 (President’s Day Weekend) June 24 & 25, 2023 September 23, 2023 (National Hunting & Fishing Day) November 11, 2023 (Veterans Day) More info about Free Fishing Days NY |
| North Carolina | July 4 Independence Day More info about Free Fishing Days NC |
| North Dakota | First weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023. Last weekend in Dec. December 30-31, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days ND |
| Ohio | Father’s Day weekend. June 18-19, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days OH |
| Oklahoma | First Weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days OK |
| Oregon | President’s Day weekend, Feb 18-19, 2023 First Weekend in June. June 3-4, 2023 Thanksgiving Weekend. November 25-26, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days OR |
| Pennsylvania | Sunday before Memorial Day. May 28, 2023 Independence Day, July 4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days PA |
| Rhode Island | First Weekend in May. (Freshwater Fishing only) May 6-7, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days RI |
| South Carolina | Memorial Day May 29, 2023 Independence Day, July 4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days SC |
| South Dakota | May 21-23, 2023 June 18, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days SD |
| Tennessee | Saturday of the first full week in June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days TN |
| Texas | First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days TX |
| Utah | June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days UT |
| Vermont | Free Ice Fishing Day and Fishing Festival. January 28, 2023 Second Saturday in June. June 10, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days VT |
| Virginia | First full weekend in June. June 2-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days VA |
| Washington | “Free Fishing Weekend” is June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WA |
| West Virginia | Second Saturday and Sunday in June. June 10-11, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WV |
| Wisconsin | Winter Free Fishing weekend – Third weekend in January. January 21-22, 2023 Summer Free Fishing weekend – First Saturday and Sunday in June. June 3-4, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WI |
| Wyoming | First Saturday in June. June 3, 2023 More info about Free Fishing Days WY |
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