The free 2022 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 2022 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 2022
| State | Free Days |
|---|---|
| Alabama | June 11 |
| Alaska | All year for people under 16 or over 60 years of age! |
| Arizona | June 4 |
| Arkansas | June 11 - 13 |
| California | July 2 September 3 |
| Colorado | June 4 & 5 |
| Connecticut | May 7 June 19 August 6 |
| DC | June 4 - June 12 |
| Delaware | June 4 & 5 |
| Florida | April 2 & 3 (freshwater) June 11 & 12 (freshwater) June 4 & 5 (saltwater) September 3 (saltwater) November 26 (saltwater) |
| Georgia | June 4 June 11 September 24 |
| Hawaii | All 365 days a year! (marine) |
| Idaho | June 11 |
| Illinois | June 17 - 20 |
| Indiana | May 1 June 4 & 5 September 24 |
| Iowa | June 4 & 5 |
| Kansas | June 4 & 5 |
| Kentucky | June 4 & 5 |
| Louisiana | June 11 & 12 |
| Maine | February 19 & 20 June 4 & 5 |
| Maryland | June 4 June 11 July 4 |
| Massachusetts | June 4 & 5 (freshwater) June 18 & 19 (saltwater) |
| Michigan | February 19 & 20 June 11 & 12 |
| Minnesota | May 7 & 8 is "Take a Mom Fishing" weekend June 10 - 12 is "Take a Kid Fishing" weekend January 14-16, 2023 is "Take a Kid Ice Fishing" weekend |
| Mississippi | June 4 & 5 July 4 |
| Missouri | June 11 & 12 |
| Montana | May 7 & 8 June 18 & 19 |
| Nebraska | May 21 |
| Nevada | June 11 |
| New Hampshire | January 14 June 4 |
| New Jersey | June 4 October 22 |
| New Mexico | June 4 September 24 |
| New York | February 19 & 20 June 25 & 26 September 24 November 11 |
| North Dakota | June 4 & 5 December 31 January 1 |
| North Carolina | July 4 |
| Ohio | June 18 & 19 |
| Oklahoma | June 4 & 5 |
| Oregon | February 19 & 20 June 4 & 5 November 25 & 26 |
| Pennsylvania | May 29 July 4 |
| Rhode Island | May 7 & 8 (freshwater) |
| South Carolina | May 31 July 4 |
| South Dakota | May 20 - 22 |
| Tennessee | June 11 for all June 11 - 17 for kids under 16 |
| Texas | June 4 |
| Utah | June 11 |
| Vermont | January 29 June 11 |
| Virginia | June 3 - 5 |
| Washington | June 11 & 12 |
| West Virginia | June 11 & 12 |
| Wisconsin | June 4 & 5 January 21 & 22, 2023 |
| Wyoming | June 4 |
Have fun out there, folks!