Looking for free summer activities? Look no further than fishing, one of the most relaxing ways to spend a hot day in the sun. While fishing rods and bait will tap into your budget, you can save some money by fishing when various states offering their free fishing days, when the typical requirement to pay for a fishing license is waived ($25 average cost, depending on the state you live in). 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 in 2024, according to TakeMeFishing.org. Many states kicked things off the weekend of June 1-2, 2024. If you missed one of the dates, don’t worry — another one should be coming around quickly.
Download the Krazy Coupon Lady app for more fun, family activity ideas and money-saving tips, deals, and coupons.
Free fishing days 2024, by state
Alabama Free Fishing Day
June 8, 2024 (Second Saturday in June every year)
Alaska Free Fishing Day
Residents under 18, non-residents under 16 can fish free year-round
Arizona Free Fishing Day
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
Arkansas Free Fishing Days
June 7-9, 2024 (Second full weekend in June every year)
California Free Fishing Days
July 6, 2024 Aug. 31, 2024
Colorado Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend of June every year)
Connecticut Free Fishing Day
May 11, 2024
June 12, 2024 (free 1-day license required)
Aug. 10, 2024 (free 1-day license required)
Delaware Free Fishing Days
June 1-9, 2024 (First weekend of June every year)
Florida Free Fishing Days
April 6-7, 2024 (freshwater fishing)
June 1-2, 2024 (saltwater fishing)
June 8-9, 2024 (freshwater fishing)
Sept. 7, 2024 (saltwater fishing)
Nov. 30, 2024 (saltwater fishing)
Georgia Free Fishing Days
June 1 & 8, 2024
Sept. 28, 2024
Hawaii Free Fishing Days
Every day (365 days/year for marine fishing)
Idaho Free Fishing Day
June 8, 2024 (Second Saturday of June every year)
Illinois Free Fishing Days
June 14-17, 2024 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Indiana Free Fishing Days
May 12, 2024
June 1-2, 2024
Sept. 28, 2024
Iowa Free Fishing Days
June 7-9, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Kansas Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Kentucky Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Louisiana Free Fishing Days
June 8-9, 2024 (Second Saturday and Sunday in June every year)
Maine Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024
Feb. 15-16, 2025 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
Maryland Free Fishing Days
June 1 and 8, 2024 (First two Saturdays in June every year)
July 4, 2024 (Every Fourth of July)
Massachusetts Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year, freshwater)
June 16-17, 2024 (Father’s Day weekend every year, saltwater)
Michigan Free Fishing Days
June 8-9, 2024
Feb 15-16, 2025
Minnesota Free Fishing Days
June 7-9, 2024 Take a Kid Fishing Weekend
Mississippi Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
July 4, 2024 (Every Fourth of July)
Missouri Free Fishing Days
June 8-9, 2024 (The Saturday/Sunday following the first Monday in June every year)
Montana Free Fishing Days
June 15-16, 2024 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Nebraska Free Fishing Day
May 20, 2024
Nevada Free Fishing Day
June 8, 2024 (Second Saturday in June every year)
New Hampshire Free Fishing Days
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
January 18, 2025 (Third Saturday in January every year)
New Jersey Free Fishing Days
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
Oct. 19, 2024
New Mexico Free Fishing Days
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
New York Free Fishing Days
June 29-30, 2024
Sept. 28, 2024
Nov. 11, 2024
Feb. 16-17, 2025 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
North Carolina Free Fishing Day
July 4, 2024 (Every Fourth of July)
North Dakota Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Dec. 30-31, 2024 (Last weekend in December every year)
Ohio Free Fishing Days
June 15-16, 2024 (Father’s Day weekend every year)
Oklahoma Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Oregon Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Nov. 29-30, 2024 (Thanksgiving weekend every year)
Feb. 16-17, 2025 (Presidents’ Day weekend every year)
Pennsylvania Free Fishing Days
May 26, 2024 (Sunday before Memorial Day every year)
July 4, 2024 (Every Fourth of July)
Rhode Island Free Fishing Days
May 4-5, 2024 (First weekend in May every year, freshwater only)
South Carolina Free Fishing Days
May 27, 2024 (Memorial Day every year)
July 4, 2024 (Every Fourth of July)
South Dakota Free Fishing Days
May 17-19, 2024 (Every third weekend in May)
Tennessee Free Fishing Days
June 8-16, 2024
Texas Free Fishing Day
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
Utah Free Fishing Day
June 8, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
Vermont Free Fishing Days
June 8, 2024 (Second Saturday in June every year)
January 25, 2025 (Fourth Saturday in January every year)
Virginia Free Fishing Days
June 7-9, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Washington Free Fishing Days
June 8-9, 2024 (First weekend after the first Monday in June every year)
Washington, D.C. Free Fishing Days
June 10-11, 2024
West Virginia Free Fishing Days
June 8-9, 2024 (Second Saturday and Sunday in June every year)
Wisconsin Free Fishing Days
June 1-2, 2024 (First weekend in June every year)
Jan. 18 – 19, 2024 (Third weekend in January every year)
Wyoming Free Fishing Day
June 1, 2024 (First Saturday in June every year)
Tell us what you think