Fishing License Exemptions by State (2026)

Every US state requires a fishing license for most adults — but every state also exempts somebody. This guide compares who is exempt in all 50 states: the youth age cutoff, senior rules, disability and veteran exemptions, and each state’s free fishing days. Every entry is verified against the official state agency source.

In Short

No US state lets adults fish license-free year-round, but every state exempts some anglers. Children fish free below a state-set age that ranges from under 9 (Hawaii) to under 18 (Oklahoma, Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota) — only about half the states use a straight under-16 cutoff. Seniors usually get a break, though it is often a cheap lifetime license rather than a free one, with the qualifying age ranging from 60 to 70. Most states also offer free or reduced licenses to anglers with disabilities and to veterans with a service-connected VA rating, and 46 of the 50 states run one to three free fishing days a year. The tables below give the sourced rule for every state.

Who is exempt from a fishing license?

Youth

Children under a state-set age fish free — from under 9 to under 18. Some states charge a reduced fee for older minors.

Seniors

A break for resident seniors (qualifying age 60–70) — a full exemption in some states, a cheap one-time lifetime license in others. Rarely simply “free”.

Anglers with disabilities

Free or reduced-fee licenses for residents with a qualifying permanent disability; documentation is usually required.

Veterans & military

Free or discounted licenses for resident veterans with a service-connected VA disability rating (commonly 50%+), plus active-duty provisions in many states.

Fishing license exemptions by state

State	No license under	Senior (min age)	Disabled	Veteran	Free days
Alabama	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Alaska	18	60+	Yes	Yes	—
Arizona	10	70+	Yes	Yes	2026
Arkansas	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
California	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Colorado	16	64+	Yes	Yes	2026
Connecticut	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Delaware	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Florida	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Georgia	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Hawaii	9	65+	—	Yes	—
Idaho	14	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Illinois	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Indiana	18	64+	Yes	Yes	2026
Iowa	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Kansas	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Kentucky	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Louisiana	18	60+	Yes	Yes	2026
Maine	16	70+	Yes	Yes	2027
Maryland	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Massachusetts	15	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Michigan	17	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Minnesota	16	None	Yes	Yes	2026
Mississippi	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Missouri	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Montana	12	62+	Yes	Yes	2026
Nebraska	16	69+	Yes	Yes	2026
Nevada	12	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
New Hampshire	16	68+	Yes	Yes	2026
New Jersey	16	70+	Yes	Yes	2026
New Mexico	12	70+	Yes	Yes	2026
New York	16	70+	Yes	Yes	2026
North Carolina	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
North Dakota	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Ohio	16	66+	Yes	Yes	2026
Oklahoma	18	65+	Yes	Yes	—
Oregon	12	70+	Yes	Yes	2026
Pennsylvania	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Rhode Island	15	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
South Carolina	16	64+	Yes	Yes	2026
South Dakota	18	65+	Yes	Yes	—
Tennessee	13	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Texas	17	65+	Yes	Yes	2027
Utah	12	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Vermont	15	66+	Yes	Yes	2026
Virginia	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Washington	16	70+	Yes	Yes	2027
West Virginia	15	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Wisconsin	16	65+	Yes	Yes	2026
Wyoming	14	65+	Yes	Yes	2026

“Senior (min age)” is the age at which a state’s senior rule begins — it may be a full exemption, a reduced fee, or a cheap lifetime license, not necessarily free. Tap any state for the full sourced rule, including the disability and veteran details. “—” means the state publishes no such exemption.

Youth fishing license ages by state

The age below which no fishing license is required. It is not a uniform 16 — 21 of 50 states differ.

No license under	States
9	Hawaii
10	Arizona
12	Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah
13	Tennessee
14	Idaho, Wyoming
15	Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
16	Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
17	Michigan, Texas
18	Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota

Free fishing days by state

46 states run a statewide day (or weekend) when no license is required. All other regulations — bag and size limits, seasons — still apply.

Alabama: Saturday, June 13, 2026 — no fishing license required in Alabama's public waters, including saltwater (no saltwater license or reef fish endorsement needed). Exceptions: State Public Fishing Lakes still require a permit, some piers still charge fees, private ponds still need the owner's permission, and State Park gate fees still apply. Source →
Arizona: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Arizona Free Fishing Day; no license required to fish public waters statewide. Bag limits and all other fishing regulations still apply. Source →
Arkansas: Arkansas' Free Fishing Weekend runs June 12–14, 2026 (noon Friday June 12 through midnight Sunday June 14) — residents and non-residents may fish without a license or trout permit. All other regulations still apply. Source →
California: Saturday, July 4, 2026 and Saturday, September 5, 2026 — no sport fishing license required statewide. All fishing regulations still apply (bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours, stream closures), and report cards are still required for steelhead, sturgeon or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River systems. Source →
Colorado: June 6–7, 2026 — Colorado's Free Fishing Weekend (first full weekend in June); no license required to fish statewide. Bag and size limits and all other regulations still apply. Source →
Connecticut: Connecticut has one truly license-free day — Saturday, May 9, 2026 — when no license is required at all. It also runs two "Free Fishing License" days, Sunday, June 21 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, on which fishing is free but a no-cost 1-day license must first be obtained from the DEEP licensing system. All other regulations still apply. Source →
Delaware: June 6–7, 2026 — Delaware Free Fishing Days; anglers may fish, crab and clam in Delaware waters without a license (no FIN number required either). All other rules still apply. Source →
Florida: Florida's license-free fishing days recur on a fixed formula each year. FWC news releases give the 2026 dates: freshwater April 4–5 and June 14–15; saltwater June 7–8, September 5, and the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 28). No license required on those days; all other regulations (bag/size limits, closures) still apply. Source →
Georgia: Georgia's 2026 free fishing days: June 6 and June 13 (during National Fishing & Boating Week) and September 26 (National Hunting & Fishing Day). No license or trout license required on those days; all other regulations still apply. Source →
Idaho: Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Idaho Free Fishing Day (the second Saturday in June); no license required statewide for that single day. Creel limits, opening dates, tackle restrictions and all other rules still apply. Source →
Illinois: June 19–22, 2026 (Friday through Monday, Father's Day weekend) — no fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp required at any public water, including Lake Michigan. All other regulations apply. Source →
Indiana: May 10, June 6–7, and September 26, 2026 — Indiana residents need no fishing license or trout/salmon stamp to fish public waters on those days. Seasons, bag and size limits still apply. Source →
Iowa: June 5–7, 2026 — Iowa's Free Fishing Weekend (the first Friday–Sunday in June). Iowa residents may fish without a license; a trout fee is still required to possess trout, and all other regulations remain in effect. Source →
Kansas: June 6–7, 2026 — Kansas Free Fishing Days; no fishing license required statewide. All other regulations still apply. Source →
Kentucky: June 6–7, 2026 (Free Fishing Weekend — the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June each year). No fishing license or trout permit required; size limits and harvest limits still apply, and permission is still needed for private waters. Source →
Louisiana: June 6–7, 2026 — Louisiana's annual Free Fishing Weekend; residents and visitors may fish Louisiana waters without an otherwise-required license. All size, season, catch and gear regulations still apply. Source →
Maine: February 13–14, 2027 and June 5–6, 2027 — on Maine's Free Fishing Weekends any person may fish without a license, except anyone whose license is under suspension or revocation. All other laws and regulations still apply. Source →
Maryland: The first two Saturdays in June and July 4 each year — for 2026 that is June 6, June 13 and July 4 — no non-tidal fishing license or trout stamp required. Size limits, creel limits, seasons and area rules still apply. Source →
Massachusetts: June 6–7, 2026 — Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend; no license required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream or river in Massachusetts from 12:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 7. All other regulations (catch limits, seasons) still apply. Source →
Michigan: Michigan's two 2026 Free Fishing Weekends — winter February 14–15 and summer June 13–14 — waive all fishing-license fees for residents and non-residents. A Recreation Passport is also not required to enter state parks/boat launches those days. All fishing regulations remain in effect. Source →
Minnesota: Minnesota has no general open free-fishing day. It runs two Take a Kid Fishing weekends — January 17–19, 2026 (ice) and June 5–7, 2026 — on which a Minnesota resident aged 16 or older may fish without a license ONLY while accompanied by a child aged 15 or younger. All other regulations, seasons and limits still apply. Source →
Mississippi: June 6–7 and July 4, 2026 — residents may fish Mississippi's public waters without a license. On June 6–7 permits are also waived at state fishing lakes and state park lakes; on July 4 those lake permits are STILL required. All other regulations apply. Source →
Missouri: June 6–7, 2026 (the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June each year). Anyone may fish without a fishing permit, trout permit or trout-park daily tag. Size and daily limits still apply, county/city/private fishing areas may still charge their own fees, and trespass laws remain in effect on private property. Source →
Montana: Montana waives the license on Mother's Day weekend and Father's Day weekend each year — in 2026 the Father's Day free weekend is June 20–21 (Mother's Day weekend was May 9–10). Any person, resident or non-resident, may fish without a license; all other regulations apply. Source →
Nebraska: May 16, 2026 — Nebraska's Free Fishing and Park Entry Day (the Saturday before Memorial Day); no fishing permit or aquatic habitat stamp required statewide, and park entry is free. All other regulations apply. Source →
Nevada: Saturday, June 13, 2026 — Nevada Free Fishing Day (the second Saturday in June); no fishing license required to fish any public water statewide, and admission to all Nevada state parks is free that day. All limits and other regulations still apply. Source →
New Hampshire: Saturday, January 17, 2026 and Saturday, June 6, 2026 — New Hampshire's two Free Fishing Days; residents and non-residents may fish without a license on those days. All other regulations still apply. Source →
New Jersey: June 6 and September 26, 2026 — New Jersey's two Free Fishing Days; no license or trout stamp required to fish the state's fresh waters. All other regulations still apply. Source →
New Mexico: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — New Mexico Free Fishing Day; residents and non-residents may fish public waters without a license. Bag limits, size limits and gear restrictions still apply. Source →
New York: Four 2026 free freshwater fishing days when no license is required to fish New York's fresh waters: February 14–15, June 27–28, September 26 (National Hunting & Fishing Day) and November 11 (Veterans Day). All other regulations remain in effect. Source →
North Carolina: July 4 each year is North Carolina's single Free Fishing Day — no license required on any public water statewide (inland, coastal and joint/trout waters), from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., for residents and non-residents alike. All size, bag and other regulations still apply. Source →
North Dakota: June 6–7, 2026 and December 26–27, 2026 — North Dakota's Resident Free Fishing Days; North Dakota residents may fish any water in the state without a license on those days. All other regulations still apply. Non-residents are not covered. Source →
Ohio: Ohio's 2026 free fishing days are Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, when residents may fish Ohio's public waters without a license (anglers under 16 are free year-round). All other regulations apply. Source →
Oregon: February 14–15, June 6–7, and November 27–28, 2026 — everyone may fish, crab and clam anywhere in Oregon with no license and no tags/endorsements. Area closures, bag limits and all other regulations still apply. Source →
Pennsylvania: Sunday, May 24, 2026 and Saturday, July 4, 2026 — no fishing license required, and Trout/Salmon and Lake Erie permits are not required either. All other fishing regulations remain in effect. Source →
Rhode Island: The first full weekend of May — May 2–3, 2026 — no freshwater fishing license and no Trout Conservation Stamp required for residents or out-of-state visitors. All other regulations still apply. Source →
South Carolina: Memorial Day (Monday, May 25) and Saturday, July 4, 2026 — South Carolina residents may fish public fresh waters without a license on those days. Saltwater, size, creel and gear rules still apply. Source →
Tennessee: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day; anyone of any age may fish Tennessee's public waters without a license. Free Fishing Week follows for youth 15 and younger, June 6–12, 2026. Applies to public waters, TWRA-owned lakes and state-park facilities; some private pay lakes still charge. Source →
Texas: The first Saturday in June each year — everyone can fish recreationally in Texas without a license or endorsements; TPWD lists June 5, 2027 as the next one. Texas also waives the license year-round when fishing on state-park property/waters (park entry fees still apply) and in waters completely enclosed within private property. Source →
Utah: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — anyone may fish at any public waterbody in Utah without a license. All of Utah's other fishing rules stay in effect. On every other day of the year, anyone 12 or older needs a license. Source →
Vermont: Two statewide license-free days in 2026: Free Ice Fishing Day, Saturday, January 31 (last Saturday in January), and Summer Free Fishing Day, Saturday, June 13. Any angler, resident or non-resident, may fish without a license; all other regulations still apply. Source →
Virginia: June 5–7, 2026 — Virginia's Free Fishing Days; no license required for rod-and-reel freshwater fishing in the state's lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs. All other regulations still apply. Source →
Washington: June 12–13, 2027 — Washington's Free Fishing Weekend, when no license is needed for many species and no Vehicle Access Pass, Two-Pole Endorsement or Discover Pass is required. Licenses are STILL required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and all shellfish. Source →
West Virginia: June 13–14, 2026 — West Virginia's Free Fishing Days; residents and non-residents may fish without a license or Conservation Stamp for two days. All other regulations still apply. Source →
Wisconsin: January 17–18, 2026 and June 6–7, 2026 — residents and non-residents may fish without a license, trout stamp or salmon stamp. All other regulations, seasons and limits still apply. Source →
Wyoming: Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Wyoming Free Fishing Day (first Saturday of National Fishing & Boating Week); anyone may fish without a license statewide except within the Wind River Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. All creel/size limits and other regulations still apply. Source →

Fishing license exemptions FAQ

Who is exempt from needing a fishing license?

Every US state requires a fishing license for most adults, but every state also exempts some anglers. The common exemption families are: children under a state-set age (as young as 9 in Hawaii, up to 18 in several states); seniors, though the senior benefit is often a cheap lifetime license rather than a free one; anglers with a qualifying disability; and veterans, usually those with a service-connected VA disability rating. Most states also run one to three free fishing days a year when no license is required at all.

At what age do kids need a fishing license?

It varies by state — it is not a uniform 16. Children fish free until age 9 in Hawaii, 10 in Arizona, 12 in five states, and all the way up to 18 in Oklahoma, Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana and South Dakota. Only 29 states use a straight under-16 cutoff. See the youth-age table below for every state.

Do seniors need a fishing license?

In most states, senior residents get a break — but 'senior' rarely means 'free.' Some states fully exempt seniors (Florida, Missouri, Mississippi and others), some sell a cheap one-time lifetime license (North Carolina $20, South Carolina $9, Maine $8), and some just offer a reduced annual rate. The qualifying age also ranges from 60 to 70. Check the specific state's rule before assuming a free license.

Do disabled veterans fish free?

In many states, yes. Most states issue a free or steeply discounted license to resident veterans with a service-connected VA disability rating — the threshold is commonly 50% or higher, though it varies. Several states also offer a free lifetime license to 100% permanently disabled veterans. The exact rule, rating threshold and application process differ by state.

When are the free fishing days in 2026?

Most states hold one to three free fishing days a year, usually a weekend in June around National Fishing and Boating Week, when no license is required (all other regulations still apply). 46 of the 50 states publish a statewide free-fishing day. The list below gives the specific 2026 (or 2027, where the state has already rolled its calendar forward) dates for every state that has one.