Christa Geraghty | 

Free Fishing Days: Here's When You Can Fish for Free in Each State

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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.

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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)

DC Free Fishing Days

  • June 10-11, 2024

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)

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)

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