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Looking for something to do this summer? How about fishing? It’s outside, has built-in social distancing, and if you go on certain days, totally free.
Various states have free fishing days, when the typical requirement to pay for a fishing license is waived. It’s a great chance to get people of all ages out on the water with a rod and a reel.
The following list has the free fishing days of each state, according to TakeMeFishing.org. If you missed one of the dates, don’t worry — another one is coming around quickly. (Plus, you could always just buy a fishing license — see how much those cost here.)
Free fishing days 2020, by state
Alabama Free Fishing Day
June 13, 2020 (Second Saturday in June every year)
Arizona Free Fishing Day
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
June 5, 2021
Arkansas Free Fishing Days
June 12-14, 2020 (Second full weekend in June every year)
California Free Fishing Days
July 4, 2020
Sept. 5, 2020
Colorado Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend of June every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Connecticut Free Fishing Days
June 21, 2020
Aug. 8, 2020
May 8, 2021
Delaware Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend of June every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Florida Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (saltwater fishing)
June 13 – 14, 2020 (freshwater fishing)
April 3 – 4, 2021 (freshwater fishing)
June 5 – 6, 2021 (saltwater fishing)
Georgia Free Fishing Day
Sept. 26, 2020
Hawaii Free Fishing Days
Every day (365 days/year for marine fishing)
Idaho Free Fishing Day
June 13, 2020 (Second Saturday of June every year)
Illinois Free Fishing Days
June 19 – 22, 2020 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Indiana Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
Sept. 26, 2020
May 2, 2021 (First Sunday in May every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Iowa Free Fishing Days
June 5 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
June 4 – 6, 2021
Kansas Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Kentucky Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Louisiana Free Fishing Days
June 13 – 14, 2020 (Second Saturday and Sunday in June every year)
Maine Free Fishing Days
Feb. 14 – 15, 2021 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
May 29 – 30, 2021
Maryland Free Fishing Days
June 6 and 13, 2020 (First two Saturdays in June every year)
July 4, 2020 (Every Fourth of July)
Massachusetts Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year, freshwater)
June 20 – 21, 2020 (Father’s Day weekend every year, saltwater)
June 5 – 6, 2021 (freshwater)
Michigan Free Fishing Days
June 13 – 14, 2020
Feb. 14 – 15, 2021
Minnesota Free Fishing Days
June 5 – 7, 2020 Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (First weekend in June every year)
Jan. 17 – 19, 2021 (Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend)
May 8 – 9, 2021 (Mother’s Day weekend every year)
June 4 – 6, 2021 Take a Kid Fishing Weekend
Mississippi Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
July 4, 2020 (Every Fourth of July)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Missouri Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (The Saturday/Sunday following the first Monday in June every year)
June 12 – 13, 2021
Montana Free Fishing Days
June 20 – 21, 2020 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Nevada Free Fishing Day
June 13, 2020 (Second Saturday in June every year)
New Hampshire Free Fishing Days
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
January 17, 2021 (Third Saturday in January every year)
June 5, 2021
New Jersey Free Fishing Days
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
Oct. 17, 2020
June 5, 2021
New Mexico Free Fishing Days
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
Sept. 26, 2020 (Last Saturday in September every year)
June 5, 2021
New York Free Fishing Days
June 27 – 28, 2020
Sept. 26, 2020
Nov. 11, 2020
Feb. 14 – 15, 2021 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
North Carolina Free Fishing Day
July 4, 2020 (Every Fourth of July)
North Dakota Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
Dec. 26 – 27, 2020 (Last weekend in December every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Ohio Free Fishing Days
June 20 – 21, 2020 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Oklahoma Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
June 5 – 6, 2020
Oregon Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
Aug. 15 – 16. 2020
Nov. 27 – 28, 2020 (Thanksgiving weekend every year)
Feb. 14 – 15, 2021 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Pennsylvania Free Fishing Days
July 4, 2020 (Every Fourth of July)
May 30, 2021 (Sunday before Memorial Day every year)
Rhode Island Free Fishing Days
May 1 – 2, 2021 (First weekend in May every year, freshwater only)
South Carolina Free Fishing Days
July 4, 2020 (Every Fourth of July)
May 31, 2021 (Memorial Day every year)
South Dakota Free Fishing Days
May 21 – 23, 2021 (Every third weekend in May)
Tennessee Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 12, 2020
Texas Free Fishing Day
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
June 5, 2021
Utah Free Fishing Day
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
June 5, 2021
Vermont Free Fishing Days
June 13, 2020 (Second Saturday in June every year)
January 23, 2021 (Fourth Saturday in January every year)
Virginia Free Fishing Days
June 5 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
June 4 – 6, 2021
Washington Free Fishing Days
June 5 – 6, 2020 (First weekend after the first Monday in June every year)
June 11 – 12, 2021
West Virginia Free Fishing Days
June 13 – 14, 2020 (Second Saturday and Sunday in June every year)
Wisconsin Free Fishing Days
June 6 – 7, 2020 (First weekend in June every year)
Jan. 16 – 17, 2021 (Third weekend in January every year)
June 5 – 6, 2021
Wyoming Free Fishing Day
June 6, 2020 (First Saturday in June every year)
June 5, 2021
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