The free fishing days have been announced for 2021 in 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 2021 dates seem to fall around early June, but there are plenty of May, July, and August dates on there as well.
While the Take Me Fishing website helpfully provides the dates, they don't have any corresponding links to back them up. So I went out and found them all! 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 2021
| State | Free Days |
|---|---|
| Alabama | June 12 |
| Alaska | All year for people under 16 or over 60 years of age! |
| Arizona | June 5 |
| Arkansas | June 11 - 13 |
| California | July 3 September 4 |
| Colorado | June 5 & 6 |
| Connecticut | May 8 June 20 August 14 |
| DC | TBD 🤷 |
| Delaware | June 5 & 6 |
| Florida | April 3 & 4 (freshwater) June 12 & 13 (freshwater) June 5 & 6 (saltwater) September 4 (saltwater) November 27 (saltwater) |
| Georgia | June 5 June 12 September 25 |
| Hawaii | All 365 days a year! (marine) |
| Idaho | June 12 |
| Illinois | June 18 - 21 |
| Indiana | May 2 June 5 & 6 September 25 |
| Iowa | June 4 - 6 |
| Kansas | June 5 & 6 |
| Kentucky | June 5 & 6 |
| Louisiana | June 12 & 13 |
| Maine | February 13 & 14 June 5 & 6 |
| Maryland | June 5 June 12 July 4 |
| Massachusetts | June 5 & 6 June 19 & 20 |
| Michigan | February 13 & 14 June 12 & 13 |
| Minnesota | May 8 & 9 is "Take a Mom Fishing" weekend June 11 - 13 is "Take a Kid Fishing" weekend |
| Mississippi | June 5 & 6 July 4 |
| Missouri | June 12 & 13 |
| Montana | June 19 & 20 |
| Nebraska | May 22 |
| Nevada | June 12 |
| New Hampshire | January 16 June 5 |
| New Jersey | June 5 October 23 |
| New Mexico | June 5 September 25 |
| New York | February 13 & 14 June 26 & 27 September 25 November 11 |
| North Dakota | June 5 & 6 Devember 25 & 26 |
| North Carolina | July 4 |
| Ohio | June 20 & 21 |
| Oklahoma | June 5 & 6 |
| Oregon | February 13 & 14 June 5 & 6 November 26 & 27 |
| Pennsylvania | May 30 July 4 |
| Rhode Island | May 1 & 2 (freshwater) |
| South Carolina | May 31 July 4 |
| South Dakota | May 21 - 23 |
| Tennessee | June 12 |
| Texas | June 5 |
| Utah | June 12 |
| Vermont | January 30 June 12 |
| Virginia | June 4 - 6 |
| Washington | June 5 & 6 June 13 |
| West Virginia | June 12 & 13 |
| Wisconsin | January 16 & 17 June 5 & 6 |
| Wyoming | June 5 |
Have fun out there, folks!