Free Fishing Days 2026 by State

• Sat, Jun 13Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Day

Set annually by governor's proclamation on a Saturday in June; no fixed recurrence rule is published, so each year must be curated.

Still required: Permit for State Public Fishing Lakes. Fees and permits at some piers. Landowner permission for private ponds. State park gate entry fees.

Also waived: Saltwater fishing license. Reef fish endorsement.

Alabama fishing reportAlabama trout stocking

Alaska does not offer a free fishing day.

Alaska offers no statewide free fishing day. It does exempt some groups year-round: residents 60 or older and resident disabled veterans (an ADF&G Identification Card is required), resident children under 18, and non-resident children under 16.

Alaska fishing reportAlaska trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Freshwater
  Free Fishing Day

Covers state waters and Community Fishing Program waters. Excludes private and tribal waters and CAP canals; SRP canals are included. Open to residents and non-residents. Children under 10 fish free year-round. One aggregator listed June 7, which is wrong.

Still required: Bag limits and all other Arizona fishing regulations.

Arizona fishing reportArizona trout stocking

• Fri, Jun 12 to Sun, Jun 14Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend

Runs from noon on the Friday to midnight on the Sunday, not a full three days. AGFC's own /education/free-fishing-weekend/ page still showed 2017 dates when checked, so the news release is the better source.

Still required: Daily creel limits and length restrictions. Youth-only and mobility-impaired access areas stay restricted to qualifying anglers.

Also waived: Trout permit.

Arkansas fishing reportArkansas trout stocking

• Sat, Jul 4Fresh + salt
  Summer Free Fishing Day
• Sat, Sep 5Fresh + salt
  Late-summer Free Fishing Day

Two days a year, but CDFW publishes no recurrence rule, so each year must be curated. 2027 dates were not published as of the verification date.

Still required: Report card for steelhead, sturgeon, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River systems. Bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours and stream closures.

California fishing reportCalifornia trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend

Held on the first full weekend of June, open to anglers of all ages, resident and non-resident.

Still required: Bag limits, size limits, gear rules. State park entrance fees.

Also waived: Habitat Stamp.

Colorado fishing reportColorado trout stocking

• Sat, May 9Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Day
• Sun, Jun 21Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing License Day 1
  Anglers 16 and older must obtain a free one-day license through the Sportsmen Licensing System. It opens three weeks before the date.
• Sat, Aug 8Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing License Day 2
  Anglers 16 and older must obtain a free one-day license through the Sportsmen Licensing System. It opens three weeks before the date.

Only the May date is turn-up-and-fish. The June and August dates still require a free license obtained in advance. Children 15 and under fish free year-round in both inland and marine waters.

Still required: All inland and marine fishing regulations.

Connecticut fishing reportConnecticut trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Days
  Anglers 16 and older must still hold a free Fisherman Identification Network (FIN) number.

Covers fishing, crabbing and clamming. Timed to National Fishing and Boating Week.

Still required: Size limits, creel limits, seasons, trout rules, gear rules and access rules. FIN number for anglers 16 and older.

Delaware fishing reportDelaware trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Open to residents and non-residents. A license is normally needed only for ages 16 to 64; under-16s and 65-plus never need one, and DC seniors get a free license with proof of age and residency.

Still required: All District fishing regulations.

District of Columbia fishing report

• Sat, Apr 4 to Sun, Apr 5Freshwater
  Spring freshwater weekend
• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Saltwater
  Summer saltwater weekend
• Sat, Jun 13 to Sun, Jun 14Freshwater
  Summer freshwater weekend
• Sat, Sep 5Saltwater
  Fall saltwater day
• Sat, Nov 28Saltwater
  Post-Thanksgiving saltwater day

Covers any recreational harvest that would need a saltwater license, including crabbing, lobstering and scalloping, from shore or a boat.

Still required: Seasons, bag limits and size limits.

Also waived: Snook permit. Spiny lobster permit.

Florida fishing report

• Sat, Jun 6 and Sat, Jun 13Fresh + salt
  National Fishing and Boating Week days
  Georgia residents only.
• Sat, Sep 26Fresh + salt
  National Hunting and Fishing Day
  Georgia residents only.

Residents only. GA DNR Coastal Resources states the waiver applies to all waters of the state, fresh and salt. The coastal division's own free-fishing page still showed 2023 dates when checked.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

Also waived: Trout license. Lands Pass.

Georgia fishing reportGeorgia trout stocking

Hawaii does not offer a free fishing day.

Hawaii offers no free fishing day, because its licensing works differently. Residents never need a recreational saltwater license in state waters. Non-residents 15 and older do, except active-duty military and their families. A freshwater game fishing license is required of everyone 9 and older regardless of residency, though it is free for ages 9 to 15.

Hawaii fishing reportHawaii trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 13Freshwater
  Free Fishing Day

IDFG states the second Saturday in June is always reserved as Free Fishing Day, so future years resolve automatically. The page does not say whether salmon and steelhead permits are also waived; treat them as still required until confirmed.

Still required: Creel limits, opening dates and tackle restrictions.

Idaho fishing reportIdaho trout stocking

• Fri, Jun 19 to Mon, Jun 22Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Four consecutive days, Friday through Monday, which is the longest window of any state found so far.

Still required: Local regulations for the water you fish.

Also waived: Salmon stamp. Inland trout stamp.

Illinois fishing reportIllinois trout stocking

• Sun, May 10Freshwater
  Spring Free Fishing Day
  Indiana residents only.
• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  National Fishing and Boating Week days
  Indiana residents only.
• Sat, Sep 26Freshwater
  National Hunting and Fishing Day
  Indiana residents only.

Residents only. Four days across the year.

Still required: Bag limits, size restrictions and seasonal rules.

Also waived: Trout/salmon stamp.

Indiana fishing reportIndiana trout stocking

• Fri, Jun 5 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
  Iowa residents only.

Residents only. Kept as fixed dates deliberately: Iowa Code 483A.38 says the commission "may designate one period of the year of not more than three days as free fishing days", so there is no published recurrence rule. The first-Friday-of-June pattern is observed practice, not law, and these dates must be re-read from the agency each year.

Still required: Size limits, daily limits and special area regulations.

Iowa fishing reportIowa trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Anyone may fish by legal means without a Kansas license on these two days.

Still required: Length and creel limits.

Kansas fishing reportKansas trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend

Open to residents and visitors of all ages, with no license or permit required.

Still required: Size limits and creel limits. Landowner permission for private waters.

Also waived: All fishing permits.

Kentucky fishing reportKentucky trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Weekend
  A free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is still required to possess tuna, billfish, swordfish, amberjack, grouper, snapper, hind, cobia, wahoo, dolphinfish or gray triggerfish.

Open to residents and visitors. The offshore permit is free but must be held in advance.

Still required: Size, season, catch limits and gear restrictions. Recreational Offshore Landing Permit for listed offshore species.

Louisiana fishing reportLouisiana trout stocking

• Sat, Feb 14 to Sun, Feb 15Freshwater
  Free Ice Fishing Weekend
  Not available to anyone whose license is under suspension or revocation.
• Sat, May 30 to Sun, May 31Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
  Not available to anyone whose license is under suspension or revocation.

Applies to inland waters. Open equally to residents and non-residents. Note the spring weekend falls at the end of May, not in June.

Still required: Daily bag limits, size limits and water-specific rules.

Maine fishing reportMaine trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 and Sat, Jun 13Fresh + salt
  June license-free Saturdays
• Sat, Jul 4Fresh + salt
  Independence Day

Held on the first two Saturdays of June and on Independence Day. Covers both tidal and non-tidal waters, residents and visitors.

Still required: Size and catch limits from the fishing and crabbing guide.

Also waived: Trout stamp. Saltwater angler registration.

Maryland fishing reportMaryland trout stocking

• Sun, May 10 and Sun, Jun 21Saltwater
  Free Saltwater Fishing Days
• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend

Freshwater and saltwater run on entirely separate dates, administered by different divisions. The freshwater weekend runs 12 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday. A search summary claimed additional February, September and November dates; mass.gov lists none, so they are excluded.

Still required: Catch limits and all other regulations.

Massachusetts fishing reportMassachusetts trout stocking

• Sat, Feb 14 to Sun, Feb 15Fresh + salt
  Winter Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Jun 13 to Sun, Jun 14Fresh + salt
  Summer Free Fishing Weekend

Two weekends a year, both open to residents and non-residents. The winter weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday of Presidents' Day weekend. The summer weekend follows the first full week of June; that rule is harder to express, so it is left as fixed dates.

Still required: All fishing regulations.

Also waived: State park entry (summer weekend only, as part of "Three Free" weekend).

Michigan fishing reportMichigan trout stocking

• Sat, May 9 to Sun, May 10Freshwater
  Take a Mom Fishing Weekend
  Minnesota residents only.
  Mothers only.
• Fri, Jun 5 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Take a Kid Fishing Weekend
  Minnesota residents only.
  You must be a Minnesota resident aged 16 or older and be taking a child aged 15 or younger fishing.

Anglers 15 and younger never need a license in Minnesota at any time of year, which is separate from these events. A DNR press release described the June window loosely as running Jun 2-8; the license pages are narrower and are treated as authoritative here.

Still required: All other regulations, seasons and limits.

Minnesota fishing reportMinnesota trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Weekend
  Mississippi residents only.
  On this date, also waived: Permits at state fishing lakes and state park lakes.
• Sat, Jul 4Fresh + salt
  Independence Day
  Mississippi residents only.
  On this date, still required: Permits ARE still required at state fishing lakes and state park lakes.

Residents only. Saltwater is administered separately by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which runs matching free days (dmr.ms.gov). Note the lake-permit rule differs between the June weekend and July 4.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

Mississippi fishing reportMississippi trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Held on the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June.

Still required: Size and creel limits. Special permits at some county, city or private fishing areas. Trespass laws on private property.

Also waived: Trout permit. Trout park daily tag.

Missouri fishing reportMissouri trout stocking

• Sat, May 9 to Sun, May 10Freshwater
  Mother's Day weekend
• Sat, Jun 20 to Sun, Jun 21Freshwater
  Father's Day weekend

Open to residents and non-residents. The two species carve-outs are unusual: most states waive everything, Montana keeps paddlefish and bull trout fully licensed.

Still required: Seasons, restrictions and bag limits. Paddlefish and bull trout still require Conservation, Fishing and AIS Prevention licenses. Paddlefish additionally requires a tag. Bull trout additionally requires a catch card.

Montana fishing reportMontana trout stocking

• Sat, May 16Freshwater
  Free Fishing and Park Entry Day

Held annually on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day weekend, so it resolves automatically. Park entry is free the same day.

Still required: All fishing regulations. Camping, lodging and other user fees at state park areas.

Also waived: Nebraska Vehicle Park Entry Permit.

Nebraska fishing reportNebraska trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 13Freshwater
  Free Fishing Day

NDOW states Free Fishing Day always falls on the second Saturday in June, so future years resolve automatically. No license needed for adults or children on any public water.

Still required: All limits and other regulations.

Also waived: State park entry fees (Free Adventure Day runs the same day).

Nevada fishing reportNevada trout stocking

• Sat, Jan 17Fresh + salt
  Free Ice Fishing Day
  Adults fishing in a tournament still need a license.
• Sat, Jun 6Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Day
  Adults fishing in a tournament still need a license.

Both dates follow a rule: the third Saturday in January and the first Saturday in June. Covers fresh and saltwater, residents and non-residents. The tournament carve-out is unusual.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

New Hampshire fishing reportNew Hampshire trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Freshwater
  Spring Free Fishing Day
  New Jersey residents only.
• Sat, Sep 26Freshwater
  National Hunting and Fishing Day
  New Jersey residents only.

Residents only, freshwater only. New Jersey does not require a license for recreational saltwater fishing generally, though a free Saltwater Registry entry applies.

Still required: Size and daily catch limits.

Also waived: Trout stamp.

New Jersey fishing reportNew Jersey trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Sep 26 to Sun, Sep 27Freshwater
  Autumn Free Fishing Weekend

Two weekends a year, open to residents and non-residents, confirmed in the NMDGF rules booklet. State Parks separately waives day-use fees at fishing and boating parks over the June weekend. NMDGF does not say whether the Habitat Stamp and Habitat Management and Access Validation are waived, and those are mandatory on Forest Service and BLM land, so treat them as still required.

Still required: Bag limits and all other rules.

New Mexico fishing reportNew Mexico trout stocking

• Sat, Feb 14 to Sun, Feb 15Freshwater
  Presidents' Day weekend
• Sat, Jun 27 to Sun, Jun 28Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Sep 26Freshwater
  National Hunting and Fishing Day
• Wed, Nov 11Freshwater
  Veterans Day

Freshwater only, and the six days are announced each February by the governor rather than following a rule. New York's June weekend is late in the month, not National Fishing and Boating Week.

Still required: All other fishing rules.

New York fishing reportNew York trout stocking

• Sat, Jul 4Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Day

Fixed in statute by the N.C. General Assembly in 1994 as always July 4, so it never needs re-curating. Runs 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. and covers inland and coastal waters, residents and non-residents.

Still required: Size limits, creel limits and lure restrictions.

Also waived: Trout fishing license.

North Carolina fishing reportNorth Carolina trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
  North Dakota residents only.
• Sat, Dec 26 to Sun, Dec 27Freshwater
  Free Ice Fishing Weekend
  North Dakota residents only.

Residents only, and specifically residents 16 and older; residents 15 and younger never need a license. The December weekend falls between Christmas and New Year.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

North Dakota fishing reportNorth Dakota trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 20 to Sun, Jun 21Freshwater
  Free Fishing Weekend
  Ohio residents only.

Residents only, 16 and older; under-16s fish free year-round. Covers Lake Erie as well as inland lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers. Ohio's weekend is late June, not National Fishing and Boating Week.

Still required: Size requirements and bag limits.

Ohio fishing reportOhio trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days
  A free paddlefish permit is still required to fish for paddlefish.

Open to everyone. Municipal fishing permits are set by cities and are not waived by the state.

Still required: Free paddlefish permit. Some city permits.

Oklahoma fishing reportOklahoma trout stocking

• Sat, Feb 14 to Sun, Feb 15Fresh + salt
  Winter Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Fresh + salt
  Summer Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Nov 28 to Sun, Nov 29Fresh + salt
  Thanksgiving Free Fishing Weekend

Six free days a year, more than almost any state, and unusually broad: fishing, clamming and crabbing are all covered, and every tag and endorsement is waived rather than just the base license. Residents and non-residents alike.

Still required: Closures, gear restrictions, bag limits and size restrictions.

Also waived: Combined Angling Tag. Columbia River Basin Endorsement. Ocean Endorsement. Two-rod validation. Shellfish license.

Oregon fishing reportOregon trout stocking

• Sun, May 24Freshwater
  Spring Fish-for-Free Day
• Sat, Jul 4Freshwater
  Independence Day Fish-for-Free Day

Open to residents and non-residents. Dates are set annually by the Commission rather than by a rule, so they must be re-read each year. The pattern in practice is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend plus Independence Day, but the Commission does not publish that as a rule.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

Also waived: Trout/Salmon permit. Lake Erie permit.

Pennsylvania fishing reportPennsylvania trout stocking

• Sat, May 2 to Sun, May 3Freshwater
  Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend

DEM publishes a rule rather than dates: "On the first full weekend of May each year, neither a Rhode Island resident nor a resident of any other state is required to possess a freshwater fishing license or a trout conservation stamp." Future years therefore resolve automatically.

Still required: All other freshwater regulations.

Also waived: Trout Conservation Stamp.

Rhode Island fishing reportRhode Island trout stocking

• Mon, May 25Freshwater
  Memorial Day
  South Carolina residents only.
• Sat, Jul 4Freshwater
  Independence Day
  South Carolina residents only.

Set in statute at S.C. Code 50-9-730, so both dates resolve automatically. Freshwater and residents ONLY: this is explicitly not a saltwater waiver, so it does not cover surf, pier, private-boat or shellfish trips, and it is not a non-resident license waiver.

Still required: Size limits, bag limits and all other regulations.

South Carolina fishing reportSouth Carolina trout stocking

• Fri, May 15 to Sun, May 17Freshwater
  Open House Weekend

Branded as Open House Weekend rather than free fishing. No license needed on any waterbody, and park entry is free the same weekend.

Still required: Daily limits and other regulations. Camping fees.

Also waived: Park entrance license.

South Dakota fishing reportSouth Dakota trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Freshwater
  Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day
• Sun, Jun 7 to Fri, Jun 12Freshwater
  Free Fishing Week (youth)
  Youth aged 15 or younger only. Adults need a license after Free Fishing Day itself.

Run every year since 1991 and named for Bobby Wilson, who retired from TWRA in 2022. The Saturday is open to everyone of any age; the following six days are for under-16s only. Covers public waters, TWRA lakes and state park facilities.

Still required: All other regulations. Privately owned pay lakes still charge.

Tennessee fishing reportTennessee trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Day

The first Saturday in June every year, so it resolves automatically; TPWD's own page cites June 5 2027, which confirms the rule (one aggregator wrongly listed June 7 2026). Separately, Texas waives the license YEAR-ROUND inside the boundaries of 70-plus state parks, for residents and non-residents of any age. That exemption is limited to pole-and-line fishing with two poles per person on docks, piers and jetties, is void if you wade out or launch a boat, and park entry fees still apply.

Still required: Bag limits, size limits and catch restrictions.

Also waived: Freshwater and saltwater endorsements.

Texas fishing reportTexas trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Freshwater
  Free Fishing Day

One day a year, any public waterbody, open to everyone.

Still required: All other fishing laws and rules.

Utah fishing reportUtah trout stocking

• Sat, Jan 31Freshwater
  Free Ice Fishing Day
• Sat, Jun 13Freshwater
  Summer Free Fishing Day

Two days a year, both open to residents and non-residents, covering Vermont lakes and streams. The June date coincides with the opening of the regular bass season.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

Vermont fishing reportVermont trout stocking

• Fri, Jun 5 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Three consecutive days. DWR has dropped the old restriction that excluded designated stocked trout waters, so over 2,900 miles of trout streams are included.

Still required: Size, season, catch limits and gear restrictions. DWR fee fishing areas still charge.

Also waived: Every license type, including trout. Facilities use permits.

Virginia fishing reportVirginia trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Fresh + salt
  Free Fishing Weekend
  A license is still required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and all shellfish.

Always the first weekend after the first Monday in June. The species carve-out is significant: salmon and steelhead, the species most visitors want, are not actually free.

Still required: License for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and all shellfish.

Also waived: Discover Pass on WDFW, Washington State Parks and DNR lands. Vehicle Access Pass. Two-Pole Endorsement where applicable.

Washington fishing reportWashington trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 13 to Sun, Jun 14Freshwater
  Free Fishing Days

Residents and non-residents, in public lakes, streams and rivers. Several press items list June 7-8, which was the 2025 weekend; WVDNR confirms June 13-14 for 2026.

Still required: Daily creel and size limits.

West Virginia fishing reportWest Virginia trout stocking

• Sat, Jan 17 to Sun, Jan 18Freshwater
  Winter Free Fishing Weekend
• Sat, Jun 6 to Sun, Jun 7Freshwater
  Summer Free Fishing Weekend

Residents and non-residents, on most state waters. The summer weekend runs alongside Free Fun Weekend, which also waives state park admission and trail passes.

Still required: All other fishing regulations.

Also waived: Trout stamp. Salmon stamp.

Wisconsin fishing reportWisconsin trout stocking

• Sat, Jun 6Freshwater
  Free Fishing Day

Game and Fish designates the first Saturday of National Fishing and Boating Week, which is the first Saturday in June, so it resolves automatically. The tribal and national-park exclusions matter: Yellowstone runs its own permit system.

Still required: Creel and size limits, gear restrictions and stream closures. Does not apply within the Wind River Reservation or Yellowstone National Park.

Wyoming fishing reportWyoming trout stocking