Free fishing days by state

Next dates not announced yet.

No license needed in public fresh and salt waters, reef fish endorsement included; State Public Fishing Lakes still need a permit and state park gate fees apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No statewide free fishing day.

The agency lists no statewide free fishing day; residents under 18 and nonresidents under 16 do not need a sport fishing license.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

State waters and Community Fishing Program waters, not private or tribal waters or CAP canals (SRP canals are fine); bag limits and all other rules apply. Children under 10 fish free all year.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

From noon Friday to midnight Sunday no fishing license or trout permit is needed; creel and length limits still apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No sport fishing license needed; bag and size limits, gear rules, report cards, fishing hours and closures still apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Fishing license and Habitat Stamp are waived for residents and visitors; all other rules apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No license needed on Free Fishing Day; on the Free Fishing License Days (June 21 and August 8, 2026) anglers 16 and older need a free one-day license from the online system.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Fish, crab and clam without a license, but anglers 16 and older still need a free FIN number; size and catch limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No statewide free fishing day.

The agency lists no free fishing day; persons under 16 and 65 or older never need a DC fishing license.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Saltwater days cover all recreational harvest that needs a saltwater license, snook and spiny lobster permits included; size and bag limits and all other FWC rules apply. The FWC website was not reachable for us, dates are from two reports on the FWC release.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Georgia residents need no fishing license or trout license on public waters on these days.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No statewide free fishing day.

The agency lists no free fishing day; a license is required for nonresidents fishing in the ocean and for introduced freshwater sport fish.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No license required; creel limits, opening dates and tackle rules still apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp needed.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Indiana residents need no fishing license or trout/salmon stamp; seasons, bag and size limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Iowa residents can fish without a license; all other regulations remain in place.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Anyone can fish by legal means without a Kansas fishing license; length and creel limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing license or permit needed; size and creel limits apply and private waters need permission.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and visitors fish without a license; size, season, catch and gear rules apply and a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is still needed for certain offshore species.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Anyone whose license is not suspended or revoked may fish without a license; all other laws and regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing license, trout stamp or registration needed; size and catch limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

June 6 to 7 is free freshwater fishing on public waters; May 10 and June 21 are the free saltwater fishing days; all other regulations, including catch limits, apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

License fees waived for residents and visitors on inland and Great Lakes waters; no Recreation Passport needed; all fishing regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend: adults 16 and older need no license when fishing with a child 15 or younger. In 2026 license sales paused June 2 to 8, so no license was needed from June 2 to June 8. All other regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

Mississippi residents fish without a license; state lake permits are waived on June 6 to 7 but required on July 4.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing permit, trout permit or trout park daily tag needed; size and daily limits apply and some county, city or private areas may still need permits.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and nonresidents fish without a license under the normal seasons and limits; paddlefish and bull trout still need licenses, tag or catch card.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing or park entry permit needed at state parks, state recreation areas and state historical parks; all fishing regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No fishing license required for adults or children on any public water; all limits and regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and nonresidents fish anywhere without a license; season dates and bag limits are enforced.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Public fresh waters only, no license or trout stamp needed; all other rules apply. Sources differ on whether non-residents are included, check NJ Fish and Wildlife.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

No license required; all other fishing rules apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Freshwater fishing license requirement waived; all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

All public waters including coastal waters, residents and non-residents, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.; length and possession limits and tackle rules still apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

North Dakota residents may fish without a resident fishing license; nonresidents are not covered.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Any public waterway including Lake Erie, no license for residents 16 and older; size and bag limits still apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Anyone may fish without a state license; a free paddlefish permit is still required and some city permits may apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Fish, clam and crab without licenses, tags or endorsements, residents and nonresidents; closures, bag and size limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and nonresidents fish without a license or Trout/Salmon and Lake Erie permits; all other regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Freshwater only: all freshwater species without a license or trout conservation stamp; size and creel limits apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

For South Carolina residents in fresh water only.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source · second source

Next dates not announced yet.

Held together with the State Parks Open House weekend.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Anyone may fish public waters without a license; youth 15 and under fish free through June 12; some private pay lakes still charge.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Texans and out-of-state visitors fish public waterways without a fishing license.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Anyone may fish any public waterbody without a license; other fishing regulations apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and nonresidents fish for the day without a license.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

No license for recreational rod and reel fishing in fresh and salt water; stocked trout waters open; size, season, catch and gear rules apply; fee fishing areas still charge.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No license for many species; still required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and all shellfish; size, bag limits and closures apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Residents and nonresidents fish public waters without a license.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

No fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp for residents and nonresidents; bag, size and species rules apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source

Next dates not announced yet.

Anyone may fish without a license except on the Wind River Reservation and in Yellowstone National Park; creel, size, gear rules and closures apply.

Checked 2026-10-23 · source