2025 Free Fishing Days | When Does Your State Participate?
Fish for free without a license on certain days this year!
If you are looking for a free activity to do this spring, this may be it! Free Fishing Days are offered to residents and visitors where you can fish for free on public property without having a fishing license.
In some states fishing is free year-round, or some even offer free fishing days during the winter so you can give ice fishing a try! Make sure to mark the days on your calendar now so you don’t miss out.
Save the following dates to fish for free if you live in these states…
- Alabama – June 7th
- Alaska – Residents Under 18 and over 60 as well as disabled veterans can fish for FREE year-round!
- Arizona – June 7th
- Arkansas – June 6-8
- California – July 5th and August 30th
- Colorado – June 7th-8th
- Connecticut – May 10th, June 15th and August 9th
- DC – June 1st-8th
- Delaware – June 7th-8th
- Florida – June 7th-8th, September 6th, & November 29th
- Georgia – June 1st-8th
- Hawaii – Everyone can fish for FREE year round!
- Idaho – June 14th
- Illinois – June 13th-16th
- Indiana – May 4th, June 7th-8th, September 27th
- Iowa – June 6th-8th
- Kansas – June 7th-8th
- Kentucky – September 27th-28th
- Louisiana – June 7th-8th
- Maine – February 1st-16th and May 31st-June 1st
- Maryland – June 7th, 14th and July 4th
- Massachusetts – June 7th-8th
- Michigan – February 15th-16th and June 7th-8th
- Minnesota – Everyone can fish year-round in most state parks!
- Mississippi – June 7th-8th
- Missouri – June 7th-8th
- Montana – May 10th-11th and June 7th-8th
- Nebraska – May 24th
- Nevada – June 14th
- New Hampshire – June 7th
- New Jersey – June 7th and October 18th
- New York – June 28th-29th. September 27th, and November 11th
- North Carolina – July 4th
- North Dakota – June 7th-8th and December 27th-28th
- Ohio – June 14th-15th
- Oklahoma – June 7th-8th (a free paddlefish permit is still required)
- Oregon – June 7th-8th
- Pennsylvania – May 25th and July 4th
- Rhode Island – May 3rd-4th
- South Carolina – May 27th and June 4th
- South Dakota – May 16th-18th
- Tennessee – June 7th
- Texas – June 7th
- Utah – June 7th
- Vermont – TBA June
- Virginia – June 7th-8th
- Washinton – June 7th-8th
- West Virginia – June 7th-8th
- Wisconsin – January 18th-19th
- Wyoming – June 7th
Be sure to check your local state regulations as additional restrictions or requirements may apply.
Not familiar with local fishing spots? Head to the TakeMeFishing.org site, which lists popular fishing locations in each state. The map shows local boat ramps, bait shops, and bodies of water, and it even has a spot where you can log what fish you’ve caught and see what other people are catching—so cool!
Pennsylvania is July 4th (not June 4th)
Whoops! Thanks for catching that, Stacy. It’s been updated. ❤️
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that clicking on South Carolina takes you to South Dakota’s page. I also tried clicking on South Dakota (thinking maybe they just accidentally mixed up), but it takes you to a wrong page for South Dakota.
Thanks, Laura! 😊 The link has been fixed now.