The free 2023 fishing days have been announced for all 50 states and DC! On these specific days, unique to each state, you are allowed to fish without a fishing license. Most of the 2023 dates seem to fall around early June, but there are plenty of May, July, and August dates on there as well.
Most freebie sites only list the dates, but I've put in the extra work and found all the corresponding links & announcements to back them up. Below are all 50 states free fishing dates along with links for proof!
On a related note, I learned about the existence of fishing licenses the hard way. I was grateful the game warden took pity on me when he saw I not only failed catching a single fish, but was also tangled in the fishing line when he pulled up.
Saved by my own ineptitude!
Kids Fishing Rod Deals
State's Free Fishing Days 2023
| State | Free Days |
|---|---|
| Alabama | June 10 |
| Alaska | All year for people under 16 or over 60 years of age! |
| Arizona | June 3 |
| Arkansas | June 10 - 11 |
| California | July 1 September 2 |
| Colorado | June 3 & 4 |
| Connecticut | May 13 June 18 |
| DC | June 10 & 11 |
| Delaware | June 3 & 4 |
| Florida | April 1 & 2 (freshwater) June 3 & 4 (freshwater) June 3 & 4 (saltwater) September 2 November 25 (saltwater) |
| Georgia | June 5 June 12 September 23 |
| Hawaii | All 365 days a year! (marine) |
| Idaho | June 10 |
| Illinois | June 17 - 18 |
| Indiana | May 7 June 3 & 4 September 23 |
| Iowa | June 2 - 4 |
| Kansas | June 3 & 4 |
| Kentucky | June 3 & 4 |
| Louisiana | June 10 & 11 |
| Maine | February 18 & 19 June 3 & 4 |
| Maryland | June 3 June 10 July 4 |
| Massachusetts | June 3 & 4 (freshwater) June 17 & 18 (saltwater) |
| Michigan | February 18 & 19 June 10 & 11 |
| Minnesota | January 14-16 is "Take a Kid Ice Fishing" weekend May 13 & 14 is "Take a Mom Fishing" weekend June 14 - 16 is "Take a Kid Fishing" weekend |
| Mississippi | June 3 & 4 July 4 |
| Missouri | June 10 & 11 |
| Montana | May 7 & 8 June 17 & 18 |
| Nebraska | May 20 |
| Nevada | June 10 |
| New Hampshire | January 21 June 3 |
| New Jersey | June 3 October 21 |
| New Mexico | June 3 September 30 |
| New York | February 18 & 19 June 24 & 25 September 23 November 11 |
North Carolina | July 4 |
| North Dakota | June 3 & 4 December 30 & 31 |
| Ohio | June 18 & 19 |
| Oklahoma | June 3 & 4 |
| Oregon | February 18 & 19 June 3 & 4 November 25 & 26 |
| Pennsylvania | May 29 July 4 |
| Rhode Island | May 6 & 7 (freshwater) |
| South Carolina | May 29 July 4 |
| South Dakota | May 21 - 23 June 18 |
| Tennessee | June 10 |
| Texas | June 3 |
| Utah | June 10 |
| Vermont | January 28 June 10 |
| Virginia | June 2 - 4 |
| Washington | June 10 & 11 |
| West Virginia | June 10 & 11 |
| Wisconsin | January 21 & 22 June 3 & 4 |
| Wyoming | June 3 |
Have fun out there, folks!