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National Fishing and Boating Week -- June 4-12, 2022 -- During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days. These are days where anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license.
Alabama -- Second Saturday in June - June 11, 2022
Arizona -- First Saturday in June. June 4, 2022 - Part of National Fishing and Boating Week. Kids younger than 10 can fish for free all year long in Arizona.
Arkansas -- Second Full weekend in June - June 10-12, 2022
Colorado -- First weekend of June. June 4-5, 2022
Connecticut -- Saturday, May 12, 2022 - CT offers 2 free fishing license days Sunday June 12 and Saturday Aug 11
DC -- First full week of June - Saturday, June 4 to Sunday, June 12, 2022
Delaware -- First weekend of June. June 4-5, 2022
Florida -- First weekend in April (freshwater fishing days) April 2nd and 3rd, 2022 - Second Saturday in June - June 11th and Sunday June 12th (freshwater) - First Saturday and Sunday in June (saltwater) June 4th and Sunday in June 5th, 2022 - First Saturday in September (saltwater) September 3rd - Saturday following Thanksgiving (saltwater) Nov 26th, 2022
Georgia -- Georgia offers 2 free fishing days - June 4, June 11, 2022 - Then again for one day in Sept - September 24, 2022
Hawaii -- 365 days a year (marine) 365 days a year
Idaho -- Second Saturday every June - June 11, 2022
Illinois -- Father's Day weekend in June - June 18-19, 2022
Indiana -- May 1, June 4-5, and September 24, 2022
Iowa -- First weekend in June - June 4-5, 2022
Kansas -- First weekend in June - June 4-5, 2022
Kentucky -- First full weekend in June - June 4-5, 2022
Louisiana -- Second Saturday and Sunday in June - June 11-12, 2022
Maine -- Feb 19 and 20 and June 4-5, 2022
Maryland -- June 4, June 11, July 4 Independence Day, 2022
Massachusetts -- First Saturday & Sunday in June - (Freshwater). June 4-5 -- (Saltwater) June 18-19
Michigan -- Feb 19-20, June 11-12, 2022
Minnesota -- Ice fishing – January 15-17, 2022 Take a Mom Fishing Weekend (Minnesota resident moms fish free) May 14-15, 2022 -- Take a Kid Fishing Weekend (Minnesota residents 16 and older fish free with children younger than 16) first weekend in June every year. June 10-12, 2022
Mississippi -- First weekend in June every year. June 4-5, 2022 "Mississippi residents can fish without a fishing license (State Fishing Lake and State Park Permits are required to fish in State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes on July 4.)" July 4th
Missouri -- Second Saturday and Sunday in June - June 11-12, 2022
Montana -- Father’s Day weekend every year - June 18-19, 2022 -- Mothers Day Weekend - May 7-8, 2022
Nebraska -- Free Fishing/Free Park Entry Day - Saturday, May 21, 2022
Nevada -- Second Saturday in June - June 11th, 2022
New Hampshire -- Third Saturday in January - January 15, 2022 -- First Saturday in June - June 4, 2022
New Jersey -- First Saturday in June every year - June 4, 2022 and October 22, 2022
New Mexico -- First Saturday in June - June 4, 2022 -- last Saturday in September - September 25, 2022
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 4-5, 2022
These are days – some states even offer free fishing weekends – where anglers can go fishing without a license. Check out the next free fishing days in your state.
Free fishing days are a perfect opportunity for beginners to try out fishing for the first time. If you already have a fishing license, consider taking a friend or family member who has never been fishing, out on the water for the day.
This directory is a collaboration of TBC Press and Takemefishing.org
State Directory for FREE Fishing Days -- 2021
