If you've been wondering “when is free fishing day,” then wonder no more! The free 2026 fishing days have been announced for all 50 states. On these specific days listed below, unique to each state, you are allowed to fish without a fishing license. Most of the 2026 dates seem to fall around early June, but there are plenty of May, July, and early autumn 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! To learn more about your local free fishing opportunities, scroll down to your state, click through to the website, and read all about your state regulations.
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
Free Fishing Days in All 50 States
| State | Free Days |
|---|---|
| Alabama | June 13, 2026 |
| Alaska | All year for people under 18 or over 60 years of age! |
| Arizona | June 6, 2026 |
| Arkansas | June 12-14, 2026 |
| California | July 4, 2026 September 5, 2026 |
| Colorado | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Connecticut | May 9, 2026 June 21, 2026 (must get free license online) August 8, 2026 (must get free license online) |
| DC | TBD 🤷 |
| Delaware | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Florida | April 4-5, 2026 (freshwater) June 6-7, 2026 (saltwater) June 13-14, 2026 (freshwater) September 5, 2026 (saltwater) November 28, 2026 (saltwater) |
| Georgia | June 6, 2026 June 13, 2026 September 27, 2026 |
| Hawaii | All 365 days a year! (marine) |
| Idaho | June 13, 2026 |
| Illinois | June 19-22, 2026 |
| Indiana | May 10, 2026 June 6-7, 2026 September 26, 2026 |
| Iowa | June 5-7, 2026 |
| Kansas | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Kentucky | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Louisiana | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Maine | May 30-31, 2026 |
| Maryland | June 6, 2026 June 13, 2026 July 4, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Michigan | Febuary 14-15, 2026 June 13-14, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Free for residents all year! |
| Mississippi | June 6-7, 2026 July 4, 2026 |
| Missouri | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Montana | May 9-10, 2026 June 20-21, 2026 |
| Nebraska | May 16, 2026 |
| Nevada | June 13, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | June 6, 2026 January 16, 2027 |
| New Jersey | June 6, 2026 September 26, 2026 |
| New Mexico | June 7-8, 2026 September 27-28, 2026 |
| New York | February 14-15, 2026 June 27-28, 2026 September 26, 2026 November 11, 2026 |
| North Carolina | July 4, 2026 September 5, 2026 |
| North Dakota | June 6-7, 2026 December 26-27, 2026 |
| Ohio | June 20-21, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Oregon | February 14-15, 2026 June 6-7, 2026 November 27-28, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | May 24, 2026 July 4, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | May 2-3, 2026 (freshwater) |
| South Carolina | May 25, 2026 July 4, 2026 |
| South Dakota | May 15-17, 2026 |
| Tennessee | June 6, 2026 |
| Texas | June 6, 2026 |
| Utah | June 6, 2026 |
| Vermont | June 13, 2026 |
| Virginia | June 5-7, 2026 |
| Washington | June 6-7, 2026 |
| West Virginia | June 13-14, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | June 6-7, 2026 |
| Wyoming | June 6, 2026 |
Have fun out there, folks!
